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16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13557 Wednesday DECEMBER 18, 2019 Azar 27, 1398 Rabi’ Al thani 21, 1441 No deal can survive Countries seek Judiciary: Amnesty German-U.S. doc if there is no balance to have close ties International’s death toll “Ringside” named best at between gives and takes 2 with Iran 2 stats is invalid 3 Cinéma Vérité festival 16

‘Boosting domestic production a Spread of terrorism biggest must, even after sanctions’ TEHRAN — Iranian Industry, Min- down under the pressure of the unjust ing and Trade Minister Reza Rahmani sanctions, however their plots did not said developing the country’s domestic work out and we are still standing production must be seriously pursued strong.” whether the country is under sanctions He mentioned some of the coun- challenge to Afghanistan or not, Shata reported. try’s improvements in the industry, Speaking in a gathering with CEOs mining and trade sector, saying license and board members of the country’s issuance for establishing industrial See page 2 large industrial and mining organi- units across the country increased by zations and corporations on Monday, 16.7 percent in the first eight months Rahmani said “Our enemies expected of the current calendar year (March the country’s industry sector to shut 21- November 23). 4 Regional security meeting to kick off in Tehran today TEHRAN— Iran and six more key countries durable security in Afghanistan. are set to hold the second session of Regional The one-day session, which is initiated Security Dialogue in Tehran today. and hosted by the SNSC, will be attend- According to the Supreme National ed by the national security advisors and Security Council (SNSC) secretariat, sen- officials from the mentioned countries. ior security officials from Iran, Russia, This year’s meeting will concentrate on China, India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the issue of Afghanistan as well as com- Uzbekistan are attending the session. The prehensive campaign against different core of the talks will be how to restore forms of terrorism in the country. 2 New leaks: Trump’s Palestine deal seeks

shared al-Quds, Saudi role A Lebanese TV network has published Trump’s so-called peace plan — which he what it reported to be a draft of U.S. Pres- calls the “deal of the century” — would ident Donald Trump’s controversial deal see a trilateral agreement signed between

Maryam Kamyab Maryam on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which Israel, the Palestine Liberation Organi- envisages the establishment of a “new Pal- zation (PLO) and the Gaza-based Hamas estine,” with occupied Jerusalem al-Quds resistance movement. remaining under mostly Israeli control New Palestine and Saudi Arabia replacing Jordan as the Under the deal, a “new Palestinian custodian of the al-Aqsa Mosque. state” would be established in the West Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ According to Al-Mayadeen’s report, Bank and the Gaza Strip, 13 EDITORIAL ARTICLE Mohammad Ghaderi French police fire tear gas at pension reform protesters Ramin Hossein Abadian Tehran Times editor-in-chief Protests and industrial action cripple transport, schools Mehr News Agency @ghaderi62 French police in Nantes have fired tear gas at pro- France on Tuesday, with mass demonstrations the CFDT, said that the adjustment in age crossed journalist testers taking part in continuing demonstrations organized by unions in their ongoing battle with a “red line” and called for the strike to continue. against President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed the government over pension reform. The protests were sparked by the revelation How Guterres pension reforms. The 13th day of strikes shuttered eight metro that France’s the High Commissioner for Pensions Costs by Unions have refused to back down in their lines in Paris and reduced others to a limited Jean-Paul Delevoye had failed to declare 13 paid suppressed the opposition to the reforms, which were unveiled service. Only one in four high-speed trains are and volunteer roles on his conflict of interest inexperienced by Prime Minister Édouard Philippe last week. be running. declaration when he entered government two Western media The crippling protests and workers’ strikes have French rail workers, in particular, have been months ago. crown prince for brought transport chaos to French cities since striking over proposed changes that include scrap- His resignation on Monday amid a scandal Saudi Arabia warfare against Iran they kicked off on December 5. ping industry-agreed retirement plans in favor over his external income has failed to calm the n the morning of September 14, Footage from Nantes, shared on social media, of a universal pensions system. outrage. s the influence of Crown Prince 2019, the Saudi Aramco oil facil- shows tear gas and water cannons being deployed Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unveiled Why workers are striking Mohamad bin Salman on Saudi ities in Buqayq and Khurais in against protesters, while some protesters managed reforms last week, including a change in the Many of the country’s largest unions want Arabia’s decision-making bodies O to kick the gas canisters back towards riot cops. pivotal retirement age from 62 to 64, though Emmanuel Macron’s government to revoke some A eastern Saudi Arabia were attacked by has been increasing, the country has taken the Yemeni army and Popular Resistance Meanwhile, nationwide strikes and protests people can still decide to retire at 62. of the proposed changes. an aggressive foreign policy approach. Committees, which cut the country’s oil were disrupting schools and travel in cities across The leader of one of France’s largest unions, (Source: RT) The most important reason for changes production by %50. in Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy is the crown From the earliest moments of the event, prince’s ambitions and inexperience in Saudi Arabia and the U.S., which were in Malaysia to host major summit of Muslim leaders governing as well as ignoring the realities of the country’s political environment. great shock, held Iran responsible for the Malaysia will this week host a summit of Muslim of its mostly Muslim Uighur minority, many Also present is Turkey’s President Recep The illegal invasion of Yemen, widespread attacks without any evidence. leaders billed as a forum to look at the Islamic of whom have been sent to “re-education” Tayyip Erdogan, whose ties with Riyadh have intervention in the domestic affairs of Iraq, However, the Yemeni army spokesman world’s problems, but it will be closely watched camps, will be raised after Islamic leaders worsened in recent times. Syria, Egypt and Libya as well as cutting ties took the responsibility for the attacks and for Middle East power plays and their stance on faced criticism for largely remaining silent Saudi Arabia’s King Salman was invited but with Qatar are among obvious effects of the stated that they were launched in response China’s Uighur minority. on the issue. is not coming, Malaysian officials say. aggressive approach adopted by Saudi Arabia. to the Saudi invasion into Yemen. The Leaders from Iran, Turkey, and Qatar will In a statement ahead of the forum, Mahathir’s Challenge to the Saudis? spokesman also rejected statements by The unprecedented strain in Riyadh’s be among hundreds of delegates attending the office said the Muslim community was suffering Analysts Giorgio Cafiero and Khalid Al-Jaber, U.S. and Saudi officials about Iranian or ties with Iran and extensive effort to apply three-day event set to discuss myriad challenges due to “the incarceration of millions (who) are in a commentary for the Middle East Institute Iraqi intervention in the event. direct or indirect pressure on the Islamic faced by Muslims. placed in detention camps, civil wars resulting think-tank, said some Muslim-majority coun- Saudi Arabia and the U.S. were pursuing Republic are the measures that can be The summit has been pushed by Malaysian in total destruction of cities... the rise of Islam- tries were uncomfortable with Saudi Arabia due several considerable goals by accusing the considered as the crown prince’s foreign Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has ophobia”. to de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Islamic Republic of Iran of involving in policy achievement. long championed greater solidarity among the With no high-level Saudi delegation coming Salman’s rise. the attacks, including: After nearly six years of following such world’s Islamic communities -- and wants to but the President of arch-rival Iran and the emir The Kuala Lumpur summit could “serve as an 1. Derailing the public opinion from an approach, not only no new achievement boost his country’s standing on the interna- of Qatar -- under a Riyadh-led blockade -- in at- alternative to the Jeddah-headquartered Organization the main reason triggering the event, has emerged, but also the country has tional stage. tendance, there has been speculation the forum of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is under Saudi which was the continuing aggression of faced the burdensome economic, security A key question is whether China’s treatment could be used to counter the kingdom’s influence. Arabia’s de facto leadership”, they said. 13 the Saudi-UAE coalition into Yemen and and political costs. the daily killing of Yemeni women and Being caught in the Yemeni quagmire children. coupled with failure in implementing its 2. Refusing to accept that the policies in Syria and Iraq, which were being Yemeni army has dealt such heavy pursued through financial and intelligence blow, since they did not believe that Iranian top support for the Takfiri terrorist groups are the Yemen would be able to carry out effects of the aggressive approach. The inept such an operation. foreign policy has resulted in more debacles, 3. Engaging Iran in the event to prove researchers, such as the scandal of arresting Lebanese Tehran’s active role in the Yemen war. Prime Minister Saad Hariri while in Saudi 4. Making excuses to justify further Arabia and Qatar’s successful resistance legal, political and military reactions and technologists in face of widespread pressure by Riyadh. measures against Iran in order to complete In recent months, Saudi Arabia have the maximum pressure campaign. made many efforts to reduce the problems These accusations, however, failed to honored caused its aggressive foreign policy ap- convince local and international public proach. In this regard, Riyadh has taken TEHRAN — Twenty-three top researchers and opinion due to the lack of substantiated some actions. For example, it has taken technologists were honored at the 20th Exhibition evidence. steps to resolve disputes with Qatar and of Research and Technological Achievements

On the one hand, the inability to attempting to get closer to the Yemeni Hou- which opened in Tehran on Tuesday, ISNA news convince the public opinion as well as this in order to reach a peace agreement. agency reported. international organizations raises the ques- Although, Saudi Arabia has been Science Minister Mansour Gholami and tion about the U.S. technical capabilities trying to review its previous aggressive Vice President for Science and Technology to identify from which side the attacks approaches, there are numerous evidences

Shima Masjedi Shima Sourena Sattari attended the opening cer- originated. Although, an international that the country is seeking to interfere in emony. fact-finding committee was established the regional states’ domestic affairs and The event is underway at Tehran International by the UN, there was no sign of Iran’s ISNA/ dictate its political will through soft and Exhibition Center till December 20. 12 involvement in the attacks. 13 less costly methods. 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS DECEMBER 18, 2019

No deal can survive if there is Countries seek to have close no balance between gives and takes: Araqchi says of JCPOA Iran wants to save nuclear deal: Araghchi ties with Iran: Rouhani By staff and agency Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran wants President says U.S. sanctions on Iran will not be permanent to save the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive POLITICAL TEHRAN – President the two countries’ national interests. We Plan of Action. deskHassan Rouhani said on should not expect something special to “The message is that we want to save the deal. The purpose is Tuesday that despite pressure by America happen. Diplomatic visits are constant not to kill the deal. Otherwise, we could have withdrawn from the countries around the world are seeking and are not in a way that a special result deal right after the U.S. withdrew on May 8, 2018, and nobody to establish close relationship with Iran. achieve by just one move. Hundreds of would have blamed us because that was in reaction to what the U.S. “The policy of a view on East and clos- meetings should be held to reach a result.” has done,” he told CGTN in an interview published on Tuesday. er ties with important Asian countries In an interview with NHK published “But we decided to give diplomacy a chance to save the deal. has always been objective of the Islamic on December 7, Araghchi said that Japan And now,… we are exercising our right in paragraph 36 of the Republic of Iran. Visits to Kuala Lumpur is an economic partner and provider of deal. So, we are still in the deal and are trying to take remedy and Tokyo at the invitation of the two technology to Iran, which has always been measures in order to save the deal,” he added. countries’ senior officials are in line with one of Japan’s major oil suppliers. He said, “No deal can survive if there is not a balance between this policy of Iran,” Rouhani said before Araghchi added Iran wants to maintain gives and takes. And we have no balance in the deal right now. departure to Kuala Lumpur. the same positive relationship with Japan Iran is fully committed to its obligations up to May this year. He added that the United States’ op- and hinted at a possible resumption of But we received nothing. So, what Iran is doing is still trying to pressive sanctions on Iran will not be oil exports. restore the balance in the deal, which hasn’t happen yet.” permanent. Araghchi and Abe met in Tokyo on Araghchi asserts that Iran wouldn’t bow to pressure. Nego- On his visit to Malaysia to attend the December 3 during which Abe said that tiating under maximum pressure is tantamount to surrender, Kuala Lumpur (KL) Summit, Rouhani Japan still supports the 2015 nuclear deal, Araghchi believes. said multilateral relations in the world formally known as the JCPOA. So, for the Iranian government, at this moment, negotiation of Islam will be studied. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Affairs Abbas Araghchi said on Monday Araqchi submitted a written message with the United States would be out of the political equation. Rouhani said that important Islamic Rouhani said regional security will that visits to Tehran and Tokyo by the from Rouhani to Abe during the visit. Looking at the long run, Araghchi believes that Iran would countries, including Iran, Turkey, Ma- be discussed in the meeting with Prime officials from Iran and Japan show the The Japanese prime minister welcomed not shape its own policy based on what’s happening in the United laysia, Pakistan, Qatar and Indonesia, Minister Abe. strength of relations between the two the continuation of political consultations States. are attending the summit. Rouhani’s visit to Japan will be the countries. between the two countries. “We are not counting on who is the U.S. president and who He said that he will hold talks with first visit by an Iranian president since During a conference at Tehran Uni- Abe visited Iran in June as the first Jap- is not. We have a very basic principle and strategy. And we Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mo- October 2000. versity, he said, “Rouhani’s visit to Japan anese leader since 1978. He was carrying are following it very carefully. We don’t think the change of hamad on the sidelines of the summit. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political will be one-day and in continuation of a message from U.S. President Donald president in the United States would change anything in the Rouhani also said that his visit to Ja- Trump to Leader of the Islamic Revo- relation with Iran, unless somebody come who can fulfill the pan is in line with facilitating expansion “The policy of a view on East and closer ties lution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for talks commitments they have already made and unless they will back of relations. with important Asian countries has always with Tehran. The Leader, while praising to the JCPOA. So, we can, again, talk with them in the JCPOA After concluding his visit to Malaysia, Japan’s sincerity, said Trump is not worthy format. That is the only possibility,” he said. Rouhani will fly to Japan for talks with been objective of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” of exchanging messages with. Elsewhere, he said, “China is a major international player. We believe that, like Russia, China also can play a very con- structive role in problems that exist in the Middle East and other regions.” “We have a very good experience of working with China for Spread of terrorism is biggest challenge to Afghanistan: Shamkhani coming to a conclusion on Iran’s nuclear program. China was a POLITICAL TEHRAN — Ali Sham- Chinese Minister of State Security Chen Wen- determined to expand strategic cooperation. Tajikistan’s Security Council. desk part of JCPOA and still an important participant to the JCPOA. khani, secretary of the qing in Tehran. “The Iranian and Chinese security institu- Shamkhani said that spreading Islamo- We appreciate China’s position to protect the deal and save the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Chen has visited Tehran as Iran is holding tions can play a special role in implementing phobia and causing division among Islamic deal. So, China already played its role in the JCPOA, which was said on Tuesday that spread of terrorism is the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan political, economic and defense agreements countries is a strategy pursued by the United a very important question in the Middle East,” he said. the biggest challenge to Afghanistan. with participation of China, Russia, India, between the two countries,” the top security States and the Zionist regime of Israel. “Spread of terrorism and efforts by certain Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. official remarked. He added that promoting real Islam is the regional and extra-regional countries to weaken Shamkhani expressed hope that construc- For his part, Chen said that China attaches only way to counter extremism. Army holds first theoretical security in Afghanistan are the most serious tive steps would be taken in line with strength- great importance to relations with Tehran. Vatanzoda also said destabilizing Af- challenges that threaten peace and stability in ening security and stability in Afghanistan. Shamkhani also held a separate meeting ghanistan under the banner of Islam must research conference Afghanistan,” he said during a meeting with Elsewhere, he said that Iran and China are with Mahmadali Vatanzoda, the secretary of be prevented. POLITICAL TEHRAN — The first version of the Army’s desktheoretical research gathering was held in Tehran, the Army announced on Tuesday, saying several senior Royal Navy head says UK does not support maximum pressure on Iran military officials attended the meeting. The meeting was held in the Kowthar center of the self-suf- By staff and agency resistance” against the U.S. maximum pressure. ficiency jihad and research department of the Army. Admiral Tony Radakin, the head of the British Royal Navy, Rouhani said in October that the Iranian nation has In a statement in February, Ayatollah Khamenei entrusted has said that the United Kingdom does not support the successfully passed the difficult test of countering the the young generation with 7 missions for the second long United States’ policy of maximum pressure on Iran. “maximum pressure” policy of the ill-wishers. stride of the Islamic Revolution in the fields of science and The UK had “been very clear” it did not support the First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri also said in Oc- research, spirituality and ethics, economy, justice and fighting Trump administration’s policy of maximum pressure on tober that Iran has succeeded to defeat the U.S. policy of corruption, independence and freedom, national honor, foreign Iran, he told BBC in an interview published on Tuesday. maximum pressure. relations and setting boundaries with enemy and lifestyle. He said that the UK wanted to “de-escalate” tensions “We have defeated the United States’ policy of maximum Several research plans, books and quarterlies were unveiled with Iran following the release of the Stena Impero. pressure and they are aware that this plan does not work in line with explaining views of the Armed Forces Command- On July 19, the 30,000-ton UK-flagged Stena Impero against Iran,” he said. er-in-Chief Ayatollah Khamenei and his second stride statement. tanker was seized by Iranian naval forces, after it ignored Abbas Araqchi, a top nuclear negotiator and deputy Also, earlier this year, in a meeting with a group of top distress call as it collided with a fishing boat on its route. foreign minister, has said Trump’s “maximum pressure” Army commanders in Tehran, Ayatollah said the growing The tanker was released in September. campaign against Iran has produced “maximum resistance”. ber 22 that Washington’s policy of sanction and pressure unity among the Iranian armed forces has enraged the enemy. U.S. President Donald Trump quit the 2015 nuclear In an interview with NPR published on September 22, against Iran has not worked. deal, known as the JCPOA, in May 2018 and introduced Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran the harshest ever sanctions on Iran as part of his adminis- will not succumb to economic pressure by Washington. “The United States is running out of options. It is desperate. Iranian patients breathe tration’s “maximum pressure” policy against the country. “Abandon the illusion that Iran can be defeated by The policy of maximum pressure has not worked,” he said. Iranian officials and analysts say the maximum pressure pressure,” he said. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has called hard due to U.S. sanctions on policy has failed. “We are resisting an unprovoked aggression by the United policy of “maximum pressure” on Tehran bankrupt. Addressing a ceremony marking International Day for States. I can assure you that the United States will not be “We have been pressuring them. Maximum pressure… medical imports the People with Disability on December 3, President Hassan able to bring us to our knees through pressure,” he noted. we’re seeing the unfolding of really a bankruptcy of ap- Rouhani highlighted the key role of the people’s “maximum Zarif also told CGTN in an interview aired on Septem- proach,” Kerry told CBS News. TEHRAN (FNA)- The U.S. sanctions and restrictions on the imports of drugs and medical equipment to Iran have short- ened the breath of special patients who are diagnosed with cancer, hemophilia, epilepsy and thalassemia. Private sector playing pivotal role in MP sees no way for talks unless U.S. Despite the American officials’ claims of not imposing sanc- tions on imports of drugs to Iran, it’s reported that medications countering economic war: Jahangiri returns to JCPOA are hard to obtain in the country due to banking embargos POLITICAL TEHRAN — Es’haq POLITICAL TEHRAN — There 19 for talks with Japanese Prime Minister that hamper money transactions which causes some Western deskJahangiri, the first deskis no possibility for Shinzo Abe. companies to refuse to sell the necessary drugs and medical vice-president, said on Tuesday that the resumption of talks between Tehran Abe said last week that Tokyo backs equipment to Tehran. private sector has been assisting the gov- and Washington unless the U.S. returns the JCPOA and is trying to help keep the “The U.S. has targeted the Iranian patients and they have ernment in confronting the U.S. economic to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action pact alive. planned to pressure those who are consumers of these drugs. war against Iran. (JCPOA), MP Seyed Hossein Naqavi- According to Financial Post, Abe also Therefore, the vitamins and ordinary drugs are easily accessed Touching upon measures adopted by the Hossein said on Tuesday. said Japan wants to make every possible in the market but the U.S. is making its utmost attempts to country’s private sector, Jahangiri said, “The “Iran’s strategy towards the U.S. has effort to reduce tension in the Middle East. prevent Iran from purchasing the vital medicine and those country’s private sector has taken giant strides been completely obvious and has been Washington has urged Tokyo to share which are necessary for cancer patients,” Head of the Iranian in facing the U.S. economic war against Iran.” Also, in July, Jahangiri stressed that his announced several times,” he said when the outcome of summit between Abe and Society of Blood and Cancer of Children Hassan Abolqassemi He added, “Despite unfair judgments, country’s economy had remained stable more asked about President Hassan Rouhani’s Rouhani, Kyodo reported. told FNA on Tuesday. the private sector has been carrying out the than one year after the U.S. imposed the looming trip to Japan and some views in this It will be the first visit by an Iranian He added that the crime committed by the U.S. against country’s exports and imports, has been gen- toughest embargos against Tehran. regard that Japan may act as intermediary president since October 2000. the Iranian patients is worse than its crime in Hiroshima. erating job opportunities for the young people “The U.S. imagines that it can zero down between Tehran and Washington. In May 2018, U.S. President Donald Meantime, Head of Iran Thalassemia Association Yunes and has also been preventing closure of our our oil sales by exerting pressure on the coun- In an interview with Azad University Trump announced his country’s withdrawal Arab said that 90 thalassemia patients lost their life last year industrial units.” tries which purchase Iran’s oil to push Iran’s news agency (ANA), he said, “With regard to from the JCPOA and returned the previous due to the lack of drugs and the U.S. sanctions, adding that 60 He also rejected as futile a claim by Wash- economy towards a collapse, but fortunately the U.S. oppressive sanctions and disloyalty sanctions lifted under the JCPOA and other young patients also died in the current year. ington that sanctions will decrease Iran’s the situation of Iran’s economy enjoys an to obligations, there is no negotiations or imposed new ones. “They would have been breathing a normal life if it hadn’t oil exports to zero, saying, “A number of acceptable stability one year after the U.S. meeting in any form with them on Iran’s The pact was struck in July 2015 been for the U.S. sanctions on drugs,” he told FNA. the Iranian managers and young experts oil sanctions,” Jahangiri said in a meeting foreign policy agenda.” between Iran and the five permanent UN The U.S. embargos have also left impacts on the hemo- stood up firmly against the U.S. policies via with Head of the International Liaison De- Naqavi-Hossein, rapporteur for the Security Council members, Germany and philia patients. new plans and did not allow the enemy to partment of the Communist Party of China Parliament National Security and Foreign the European Union. “Basically, what the U.S. is doing is a type of war crime; materialize its plots and objectives.” Song Tao in Tehran. Policy Committee, added, “Iran has on many Iran has repeatedly said it will keeping although the Americans declared that drugs and medical equip- “The volume of our trade transactions has He described China as the main economic occasions announced that the required reducing its obligations to the agreement ment are not sanctioned, what we witness is harsh sanctions exceeded $100 billion regardless of the U.S. partner of Iran and oil customer and said, “All negotiations and agreement with the U.S. in stages and may even quit the agreement in the field of drugs and medical equipment,” former head pressures on Iran’s economy which proves high-ranking Iranian officials have put the have already been concluded and now they unless the remaining signatories come up of Iran’s Hemophilia Association Ahmad Qavidel told FNA. that the country’s economy is still standing on strategy to develop ties with China on their must fulfil their undertakings.” with solutions to protect its economy from Also, Sara Nouri, the Managing-Director of Iran’s MPS Iranians’ feet,” the vice president underscored. agenda as a serious mechanism.” Rouhani is set to visit Japan on Dec. U.S. sanctions. (Mucopolysaccharidosis) Patients Society, told FNA that the Association provides necessary medicine to the MPS patients but it has faced problems after the U.S. sanctions. “The most important medicine needed for the patients is a Regional security meeting to kick off in Tehran on Wednesday type of enzyme and they should receive them weekly,” Nouri 1 The national security officials will also hold bilateral talks. enjoyed the capability to help stabilize its eastern neighbor. Khadem added that Iran could cooperate with Afghanistan said, adding that 300 MPS patients have been identified in The first session of the Regional Security Dialogue was held “Iran, as a neighbor of Afghanistan, has a bold role in peace and assist Kabul in fighting terrorism. Iran so far but the number is expected to increase to 1,000. last year in October. and it can undertake several vital steps for having a sustainable “On the other hand, Iran, because of its dominance and sta- “For instance, if a patient should receive 50 drugs in a Tajikistan and Uzbekistan which neighbor Afghanistan have peace,” Khadem said at the time, touching upon comments by tus, can convince the leaders of Taliban to join the campaign for period of time, he/she receives 5 to 10 drugs now due to the attended this year’s meeting. Afghan officials who believed that U.S. efforts for establishing establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan,” he highlighted. problems created by sanctions, and this will inflict serious In August, senior Afghan analyst Entezar Khadem hailed peace in Afghanistan would be futile without contribution from The expert added that Tehran could help Taliban reach the harm to the patients’ health,” she warned. Tehran’s role in the peace process in Afghanistan, saying Iran neighboring countries like Iran and India. conclusion that Afghanistan was no longer a place for terrorism. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2019 IRAN IN FOCUS 3

Foreign diplomats meet Iran’s Defense chief: Iran needs to gain power for survival human rights chief POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iran’s geopolitical and geographic deskposition necessitates gaining power for survival POLITICAL TEHRAN — Moham- briefing in Tehran. in the region, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Tuesday. deskmad Javad Larijani, sec- He was referring to a claim by U.S. “We must increase our power in all fields, particularly in retary of the High Council for Human special representative for Iran Brian defense,” Hatami said at a meeting of defense industry re- Rights in Iran, hosted a meeting with a Hook, who had said more than a thou- searchers in Tehran. number of foreign ambassadors in Tehran sand people may have been killed during He said Iran has gained such a high level of defense power on Tuesday. the protests. that it surprises the enemies in their decision-making. There was no word about the content In certain cases, the protests against of the talks. rise in gasoline price turned violent as However, speaking to reporters on the some rioters clashed with police, using sidelines of the meeting, Larijani said the knives and guns. number of individuals who were arrest- Rioters damaged public and private ed in the last month’s protests is “a few property and put banks and state build- hundreds, not a few thousands.” ings on fire. “Two incidents happened after the The protests lasted just for a few days. announcement of the gasoline price in- Earlier this month, Leader of the Is- crease,” he said, according to IRIB news. lamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “The first incident was the people’s protest urged relevant state bodies to practice which we should attend to, but the sec- Islamic mercy when dealing with those ond incident was systematic measures by who committed acts of violence or caused guided groups which resorted to violence, insecurity in the protests. destruction and killing under the guise He said those who were killed without of protests.” being involved in provoking riots should “By employing new models in science and technology, we He also said 85 percent of victims of be considered martyrs and their families have detected the shortcomings in the defense sphere,” he the killings were security forces as well groups, Larijani added. the November unrest is higher than that should receive stipends. said, adding that Iran has reached a point that will not be as those who were trying to protect their In remarks last week, government of the civilians. Ayatollah Khamenei also called for overwhelmed by the enemies. homes and families. spokesman Ali Rabiei said number of “We cannot announce inflated statis- Islamic mercy in dealing with those sus- Pointing to Iran’s progress in the defense sphere, General The other 15 percent were from terrorist police forces who were injured during tics as America does,” Rabiei told a press pects involved in sabotage acts. Hatami said the technologies developed by the Defense Minis- try are helping other domestic organizations, industries, knowl- edge-based companies and the private sector. In remarks earlier this month, Chief of Staff of the Iranian ‘Failure to join FATF won’t be good for economy’ Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri sion would be in line with the country’s “expediency”. with the FATF Standards, then the FATF will fully said the Islamic Republic has gained full self-sufficiency in Majid Ansari, a member of the Expediency Council, lift the suspension of counter-measures and call on the field of defense. told IRNA on Monday that the council is still studying its members and urge all jurisdictions to apply effec- He also highlighted the effectual strategy to take advantage of the CFT and the Palermo bill. tive counter-measures, in line with recommendation knowledge-based companies for manufacturing defense equipment. He declined to comment about whether the two bills 19,” the FATF said in a statement, Reuters reported. Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years would be finally rejected or approved by the council. One of the actions Iran is required to take to ap- made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of indig- The overall atmosphere in the Expediency Coun- pease the FATF is to ratify the CFT, the convention enous equipment. cil is against approving the FATF. The opposition combatting the financing of terrorism. Iran maintains that its military capabilities pose no threat to to ratifying the FATF rose after the abrogation of Mesbahi-Moghadam, who served as parliament regional countries, stressing that the Islamic Republic’s defense the 2015 nuclear deal by the United States and the representative for two four-year terms, also told ISNA doctrine is entirely based on deterrence. return of sanctions. in an interview last month that the council has set Gholamreza Mesbahi-Moghadam, a member of aside studies to approve bills related to the FATF. the Expediency Council, has said, “In a situation in “Palermo and CFT will help the United States to which the country is under the most severe sanc- identify the ways we circumvent the sanctions. We Iran, Russia, Turkey to tions, joining such conventions is synonymous with will not tighten sanctions by our own hands,” he hold parliamentary talks in POLITICAL TEHRAN — Mehdi Motaharnia, a self-inflicted sanctions. In the situation in which the remarked. deskpolitical analyst, has claimed that if United States seeks to limit the country’s financial However, the government is pushing for the ap- Ankara: Russian MP Iran refuses to join the Financial Action Task Force relations, it is not beneficial to join institutions like proval of the FATF. (FATF), an international consensus would be formed FATF.” Talking in a cabinet meeting on October 23, Presi- The parliament ratified the FATF in October 2018, dent Hassan Rouhani called on the Expediency Council POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iran, Russia and Turkey are set against Iran. desk “Currently, North Korea has been blacklisted and however, the oversight Guardian Council rejected to approve the FATF related bills. to hold parliamentary consultations in Ankara Iran will be the second country if it is also blacklisted. the bill. “It is our pride that we fight terrorists and counter early next year, a Russian lawmaker said on Tuesday. If so, the first consequence will be an internation- Whenever there is a dispute between the parliament corruption, therefore we should not allow allegations “We have an agreement with Turkey and Iran to hold reg- al consensus against Iran in the area of economic and the Guardian Council on a bill it is referred to of money laundering against our banking system,” ular trilateral joint meetings of foreign affairs committees,” activities,” he told ISNA in an interview published the Expediency Council for final arbitration. Rouhani stated. said Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Russian upper house’s on Tuesday. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force He added, “This hurts our country.” Foreign Affairs Committee. He noted that refusing to join the FATF will be (FATF) said on October 18 that it has given Iran a Mahmoud Vaezi, the presidential chief of staff, “very dangerous” for Iran and will affect the future final deadline of February 2020 to tighten its laws said on October 30 that Iran should use the opportu- of investment negatively. against money laundering in compliance with the nity to join the FATF in order to avoid self-inflicted Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi global watchdog’s financial standards. sanctions. said on Monday that the Expediency Council takes the “If before February 2020, Iran does not enact the He said those who oppose joining the FATF should final decision on the FATF, expressing hope the deci- Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions in line accept responsibility for their actions. Judiciary: Amnesty International’s death toll stats is invalid Esmaeili says Judiciary is investigating cases of unrest victims

POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Meanwhile, anti-Iranian media outlets “The first such meeting took place in the end of the spring deskspokesman for Iran’s as well as some Western officials, includ- session in Moscow. The second meeting is scheduled to take place Judiciary says the Judiciary is investigat- ing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, early next year in Turkey’s Ankara. We, for our part, have already ing cases of the victims of the November voiced their support for the rioters. agreed to the dates, but we are still waiting for the confirmation protests in certain cities in the country. However, the Iranian people staged by our Iranian partners,” Kosachev said at a press conference, The Judiciary has started investiga- rallies in various cities across the coun- Urdu Point reported. tion into any suspicious death during the try to condemn the riots and support the He said Tehran has confirmed that it will host the third meeting protests, Gholam Hossein Esmaeili said Islamic Republic system. in the second half of 2020. at a press conference on Tuesday, Mehr Soon after the protests erupted, Ayatol- “And then it will be Russia’s turn again. So, we are having a reported. lah Khamenei supported the government’s mechanism of regular biannual joint meetings of foreign affairs According to Esmaeili, the death toll decision, putting an end to doubts and committees of the three parliaments,” Kosachev added. of the unrest, as announced by Amnesty possible moves to reverse the decision. The three countries have, in part, worked together to help International, is invalid. Esmaeili said on November 19 that the resolve the conflict in Syria. They serve as guarantors of the He said the international body’s statis- innocent individuals who were arrested Syrian ceasefire. tics is based on lies, adding that Amnesty would be released soon. The Astana peace talks were launched on Jan. 23-24, 2017 International is an anti-human rights body The judicial, security and law enforce- with the aim of putting an end to the Syrian conflict. which supported rioters. ment units are expected to immediately Kazakhstan has hosted multiple rounds of talks on Syria since Esmeili said Iran’s enemies are spread- determine whether the detainees have January 2017, backed by the three power brokers, most of which ing false information about the death toll committed crimes and to release those involved delegations from the Syrian government and opposition. to damage the reputation of the Islamic who are innocent and have not committed The 14th round of talks kicked off in Nursultan (formerly Republic. arson or property damage, he said. called Astana) earlier this month, with a focus on technical issues, “Even individuals who were alive “This was put on the agenda from the in the northern part of Syria, the area of Idlib, and the banks of were reported dead [by foreign media],” very beginning,” Esmaeili said. “With this the Euphrates. he added. ensure fair trial. last month, a number of Iranian cities saw measure, the concern of some families He added the Judiciary is planning The spokesman also said most of the sporadic protests that turned violent in will be alleviated.” to review the cases of all the individuals detainees have been released. some cases. A number of banks and gov- He also said foreign elements were who were arrested during the protests to Following a hike in the price of gasoline ernment buildings were set ablaze. proven to be involved in the protests. Health minister: Iran holds reserve of strategic medicines

TEHRAN (Tasnim) — Iran’s Health Minister said the country Paris serious in salvaging Iran nuclear deal: envoy has amassed a reserve of strategic medicines enough to meet POLITICAL TEHRAN — French ambassador to deepening of relations in the field of nuclear industry. domestic demand for seven months. deskTehran Philippe Thiebaud has under- Washington withdrew from the internationally-endorsed Speaking at a conference in the western city of Hamedan on lined Paris’s interest in preserving the 2015 Iran nuclear nuclear deal with Iran on May 8, 2018, reimposed the Tuesday, Saeed Namaki said all Iranian pharmaceutical factories agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of toughest-ever sanctions against the country and started and operating rooms have a reserve of strategic medicines enough Action (JCPOA), reaffirming the seriousness and interest a plan to zero down Tehran’s oil sales. to meet demands until July 2020. of his country and the European Union in maintaining Under the nuclear agreement, Tehran undertook to The minister also noted that medicine shortage in Iran has the important agreement. put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the dropped to one-third what it used to be last year. Thiebaud made the remarks in a meeting with Behrouz termination of economic and financial sanctions. The Health Ministry has managed to supply the necessary Kamalvandi, the spokesman of Iran’s Atomic Energy Or- Following the U.S. withdrawal, Iran remained fully medical equipment and medicines despite the cruel sanctions ganization (IAEO) on Monday. committed to the JCPOA for a year, but announced on imposed by the U.S., Namaki added. During the meeting, the French envoy discussed the the anniversary of Washington’s bellicose move that its In comments in October, he said Iran was exporting pharma- latest status of the agreement and expectation of the “strategic patience” is over and would gradually reduce ceuticals to countries in Europe, Africa and Central Asia. JCPOA parties to maintain the agreement given Iran’s its commitments to the deal at 60-day intervals, which In September, secretary of Biotechnology Development Head- scaling down of its commitments under the deal, Iran were designed as deadlines for Europe to protect Tehran’s quarter at the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science and Tech- Press reported. interests under the deal. nology said Iranian biopharmaceuticals were being exported The two sides also exchanged views on bilateral coop- Tehran has repeatedly said its measures will be revered to major customers like Russia, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Malaysia, eration in various fields of nuclear science and technolo- as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the Iranian and Turkey, adding that plans were underway to transfer Iranian gy, including fusion and radiopharmaceuticals, and the economy from unilateral U.S. sanctions. biopharmaceuticals technology to Argentina. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY DECEMBER 18, 2019

STOCK MARKET ‘Boosting domestic TEDPIX 346870.73 IFX 4528.11 production Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir a must, even CURRENCIES USD 42,000 rials EUR after sanctions’ 46,820 rials GBP 55,850 rials 1 According to the official, pro- 7.2 percent,” he said. duction of various vehicles including trucks He further noted that the ministry AED 11,437 rials and agricultural machinery also witnessed is implementing 34 executive programs Source: cbi.ir an increase in the mentioned period, while under seven major axes, for promoting other sectors including textiles, yarns, home domestic production across the country in appliances, foodstuff, and leather stuff also the current Iranian calendar year (began experienced a rise in production. on March 21). “In this year’s first eight months, pro- According to Rahmani, the ministry’s financing, as well as expanding exports to producers and said industry ministry is COMMODITIES duction in food industry increased by 15 programs mainly focus on developing and the neighboring countries. determined to pursue its plans on boosting Brent $65.58/b percent while production of crude steel supporting domestic production, mining Elsewhere in his remarks, the minister domestic production based on the country’s WTI $60.40/b increased by 6.5 percent, steel products by and mining industry development, tech- stressed his ministry’s determination for Sixth Five-Year National Development Plan 6.6 percent, copper cathode by 13 percent, nology, business environment improve- reducing imports of domestically-made (ends in March 2021) until it is able to save OPEC Basket $66.76/b glass jar by 10.2 percent, and cement by ment, new strategies in trade logistics and products in order to support the country’s the country over $10 billion every year. Gold $1,480.30/oz Silver $$17.12/oz Jask Port becomes free PMO inks deals worth $1.3b with Platinium $934.00/oz trade zone private sector since March Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s Jask ECONOMY TEHRAN — The head billion) have been invested in various deskPort in southern Hor- deskof Iran’s Ports and maritime and port sectors in the form of mozgan province has become a free trade Maritime Organization (PMO) said his 330 investment deals. Singapore eyes new drivers zone, IRNA reported on Tuesday, quoting organization has signed nine investment “Investment in this sectors has the Transport and Urban Development deals worth 55 trillion rials (about $1.31 increased by 53 percent compared to of financial progress Minister as saying. billion) with domestic investors since the previous year,” he added. Speaking in a conference on development beginning of the current Iranian calendar Investment deals signed on A key Singapore advisory panel has proposed a 10-year strate- of Iran’s maritime services and infrastruc- year (March 20), IRIB reported. Monday gy aimed at ensuring annual economic growth of 2-3%, mainly ture in Tehran, Mohammad Eslami said the Speaking in a ceremony on the occasion On the sidelines of the ceremony, PMO centered on trade partnerships, deepening the workforce‘s tech program for turning the country’s ports into countries. of the National Transportation Day on also signed two investment deals worth 900 skills and digitalizing the economy. free trade zones with the aim of facilitating Situated on the Gulf of Oman, Jask is Tuesday, Mohammad Rastad said despite billion rials (about $21.4 million) with the It also recommended a review of Singapore‘s tax system so that investment and attracting foreign investors a port town which serves as the capital of all the U.S. efforts for hurting Iran’s country’s private sector. it remains pro-growth and competitive, while also “broad-based, is on the government’s agenda. Jask County in the southern province of economy and its maritime transport The investment agreement between progressive and fair” to adjust to an ageing society but it did not Referring to some ports in the country that Hormozgan. industry, non-oil imports through Amirabad Port and Ard Nemone Joybar go into details over how that should be shaped. enjoy the benefits of being free trade zones, Back in October, Iranian Oil Minister the country’s ports has witnessed a Flour Company was one of the contracts “Over the next decade, our collective efforts should enable us to Eslami noted: “The process of turning some Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the country is 15.8-percent rise while exports grew by reached on the sidelines of the event which grow by 2-3% per year on average, exceeding the performance of of the country’s ports into special economic planning to build petrochemical complexes 2.2 percent. was held at Homa Hotel in Tehran. most advanced economies,” the Committee on the Future Economy zones is also on the agenda.” as well as refineries in the Port. According to the official, since the The second agreement was inked between (CFE) said in its report. The official stressed the need for increas- According to Zanganeh, the ministry beginning of the current Iranian calendar PMO and the Office of Advanced Space and In 2016, Singapore‘s economy grew 1.8%, its lowest pace of ing international communication in order has issued permits for construction of two year, 23.5 million tons of goods have been Transportation Technologies of the Vice growth since 2009, when the global financial crisis sent interna- to attract investors in the global markets. refineries with daily refining capacities of imported into the country’s ports and 38.6 Presidency of Science and Technology for tional trade plummeting. “We should be able to improve our non-oil 300,000 and 150,000 barrels per day (bpd), million tons of commodities have also construction and indigenization of marine Singapore has a history of conducting broad reviews of its economy, especially in the ports,” he added. the projects which are going to be carried been exported. vessel technology. economic strategy going back to the 1960s and 1970s, and most According to the official, the Iranian out by the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Delivering his speech in the same event, The agreement was signed by Mohammad recently in 2010, with the government following most proposals. government is seriously pursuing the de- Order (EIKO) and one of the subsidiaries Deputy Head of PMO, Mohammad-Ali Rastad and Manouchehr Manteqi, the The CFE, formed of some government officials, prominent CEOs velopment of maritime trade exchanges of Bakhtar Petrochemical Company (Pet- Hassanzadeh said over the past year, president of the Office of Advanced Space and specialists in various fields, consulted 9,000 stakeholders, through joint commissions with regional ro-refinery), respectively. more than 158 trillion rials (about $3.76 Technologies and Advanced Transportation. including trade associations, public agencies, unions, companies and students, before putting forward its proposals. Government accepted strategies Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a letter attached to the report that the government accepted the proposed strategies Majlis Budget committee approves next year’s budget bill and would pursue all of them. Ministers will provide a response ECONOMY TEHRAN — The Iranian parliament (Ma- proved budget. (about $40.95 billion) envisaged in the present year’s budget. during the 2017 budget speech, due on Feb 20. deskjlis)’s Planning and Budget Committee on The bill has estimated the government’s budget at 5.63 Like the current year’s budget, the next year’s proposed Monday approved the 1.988 quadrillion rials (about $473.5 quadrillion rials (about $134.04 billion), 8.2 percent higher budget requires the government to pay 20 percent of its oil billion) national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar than the figure in the present year’s budget. revenues to National Development Fund (NDF). year, starting March 20, Shana reported, quoting a member A 15-percent rise has been envisaged in the salary of the The main characteristic of the next year’s budget bill which of the committee as saying. governmental employees. makes it different from previous years’ budget bills, is the According to Shahbaz Hassanpour, the committee will The submitted bill has envisaged 2.61 quadrillion rials impact of the U.S. sanctions on the country’s economy and start assessing the details of the bill since the budget outlines (about $62.14 billion) of incomes, while 3.67 quadrillion the consequent considerations which have been taken into are ratified. rials (about $87.38 billion) of expenses. account in preparing it. On December 8, President Hassan Rouhani submitted Revenues from exporting oil, gas and gas condensate are The next year’s budget bill has been modified in terms of the administration’s draft of the national budget bill for the estimated at 454.9 trillion rials (about $10.83 billion), down resources, expenditures, policies, and objectives, considering next Iranian calendar year 1399 to the Majlis. 66 percent from 1.37 quadrillion rials (about $32.61 billion) the resistance against the U.S. sanctions. The proposed budget amounted to about 1.988 quadril- approved in the current year’s budget. In resources, the government has tried to have the least lion rials (about $473.5 billion at the official rate of 42,000 Tax incomes are predicted to be 1.95 quadrillion rials (about dependence on oil resources in the history of the country’s rials), with a 14-percent rise from the current year’s ap- $46.42 billion), rising 27 percent from 1.72 quadrillion rials economy.

The global economy is growing at its slowest rate since 2009 Asked about possible specific changes to the tax system, Fi- Trade tensions, which have been inflamed by Forecast, released in October. aim at defusing trade tensions, reinvigorating pickup in investment growth is necessary to meet nance Minister Heng Swee Keat said at a press briefing that will the Trump administration in Washington, are “Global growth is forecast at 3.0% for multilateral cooperation, and providing timely key development goals,” the World Bank said. be addressed through a separate process, including consultations. seen as one of the key constraints to growth. 2019, its lowest level since 2008–09 and a support to economic activity where needed.” “Global trade is stagnating and is dragging Economists said the government might be looking at increasing China’s gross domestic product growth slowed 0.3% percentage point downgrade from the Other growth forecasts have also been sub- down economic activity in almost all major the sales tax or the income tax for the high earners, while potentially to 6% in the third quarter, its weakest perfor- April 2019 World Economic Outlook. Growth dued. In June, the World Bank projected 2019 economies. lowering the flat 17% corporate tax. mance in more than three decades. is projected to pick up to 3.4% in 2020 (a 0.2 global growth of just 2.6% and 2.7% for 2020. “Policy uncertainty is undermining invest- “Every country in the world right now wants to cut their corpo- Worldwide economic growth is at its slow- percentage point downward revision compared Emerging and developing economies ment and future jobs and incomes. Risks of even rate tax rate, the U.S. included,” said Michael Wan, an economist est pace since 2009 when the global financial with April), reflecting primarily a projected need to strike a careful balance between weaker growth remain high, including from an for Credit Suisse. crisis was in full swing. This represents another improvement in economic performance in a borrowing to promote growth and avoiding escalation of trade conflicts, geopolitical ten- “I think the government does view that with some concern. It headwind in South Africa’s dismal growth story, number of emerging markets in Latin America, risks associated with excessive borrowing,” sions, the possibility of a sharper-than-expected could impact Singapore‘s competitiveness, re-shape global supply which has already been hobbled by a litany of the Middle East, and emerging and develop- it noted. So, South Africa is not alone in this slowdown in China and climate change,” the chains … the government would definitely want to save some fiscal domestic errors and woes. ing Europe that are under macroeconomic regard, but that is small solace as rising debt OECD said in its economic outlook. space to respond to those kind of shocks if need be.” The planet may be heating up because of strain,” it said. levels are adding to the general risk outlook One of the most depressing things about this The report identifies the rise of the Asian middle-class and in- human-induced climate change, but the global “Yet, with uncertainty about prospects for for emerging economies. state of affairs is that it raises the scale of the creased urbanization as opportunities for its finance, logistics and economy is cooling down in the face of trade several of these countries, a projected slowdown “Investment growth among emerging and challenge confronted by South African policy- hub services, as well for a more advanced manufacturing sector. wars, Brexit, geopolitical tensions and the policy in China and the United States, and prominent developing economies is expected to remain makers, who have an economy on their hands In terms of external policies, the government was advised to uncertainty that is an offshoot of these trends. downside risks, a much more subdued pace of subdued and below historical averages, held that may well be stuck in the rut of recession, resist protectionism and strengthen trade cooperation by reducing Let’s start with the International Monetary global activity could well materialize. To forestall back by sluggish global growth, limited fiscal with little prospect for decent growth in 2020. tariffs and other barriers. Fund’s (IMF) most recent World Economic such an outcome, policies should decisively space, and structural constraints. A sustained (Source: dailymaverick.co.za) The ASEAN Economic Community and the Beijing-favored Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are key avenues to pursue such policies. Another option is partnering global financial institutions on regional development projects. Chinese corporate debt is the ‘biggest threat’ to the global economy, says Moody’s chief economist Strategic importance for the economy Domestically, the report identified cybersecurity skills as of By Weizhen Tan its slowing economy, which has been hit by U.S. tariffs on strategic importance for the economy and national defense. It said Chinese exports. these could be developed in the workforce during national service Chinese corporate debt is the “biggest threat” to the global The country has this year more or less paused its delev- training, which is mandatory for male citizens upon leaving school. economy, warned a Moody’s Analytics economist, who de- eraging efforts and put in place more stimulus. A simplified regulatory framework for venture capital funds and scribed such risks as a “very significant fault line.” Fitch Ratings said last week that a record high of 4.9% of encouraging more private equity firms to be based in Singapore, That followed similar comments by Fitch Ratings last China’s private issuers defaulted on onshore bond payments could help spur the growth of local companies, while the govern- week, which said that private companies in China have de- — or yuan-denominated bonds — in the first 11 months of ment should provide more targeted assistance, the report said. faulted on their debts at a record pace this year. 2019, a jump from 0.6% in 2014. There were no proposals to further tighten foreign manpower While corporate debt is a “fault line in the financial system In an October report, the ratings agency put it down regulations, after such measures were introduced following the and the broader economy,” Moody’s Chief Economist Mark to a tightening of credit as a result of the government’s 2011 elections, when popular discontent with immigration came Zandi flagged indebted Chinese companies as the larger risk. deleveraging efforts. to the spotlight. “I would point to Chinese corporate debt as the biggest Local governments have also shown a “greater tolerance” The committee urged the government to support the devel- threat,” he said, adding that it’s growing very rapidly in China. towards defaults, it said. opment of digital capabilities such as applied data analytics by Zandi explained that many companies are struggling to economy were to slow,” Zandi said. “Around 80% of the onshore defaults by both issuer count establishing joint laboratories with industry players. deal with a slowdown in growth stemming from the trade Debt has been a problem in the world’s second-largest and principal amount were from the private sector, being CFE also recommended that the government should keep in- war and other factors. economy, which has been trying to reduce its reliance on more vulnerable than state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to vesting in new international connections such as the planned Kuala “In the United States, it’s similar kind of picture — not it by tightening regulations to speed up deleveraging — or external funding market volatilities — and therefore face Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail, Changi airport‘s Terminal 5 to the same degree — but we have seen very significant the process of reducing debt. greater liquidity and/or refinancing risk under tight credit and the high-tech seaport in Tuas. increase in so-called leveraged lending, as in lending to However, the trade war is putting a dent in its efforts to conditions,” the report said. (Source: wellstonjournal.com) highly indebted companies, and they are vulnerable if the pare its massive debt levels as China seeks ways to boost (Source: cnbc.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2019 ENERGY 5

Switzerland asks Iran to join KEPCO inks 3 research-based “Blue Peace” movement

ENERGY TEHRAN – Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Mark- deskus Leitner called on Iranian Energy Ministry to deals with domestic firms join the Blue Peace movement, the portal of the Energy Ministry (Paven) reported. Leitner who met with Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister for Water ENERGY TEHRAN — Khazar Ex- Earlier this month, KEPCO Managing desk and Wastewater Affairs Ghasem Taghizadeh Khamesi on Monday ploration and Produc- Director Ali Osouli said that his com- said Blue Peace is a movement started by Switzerland for water tion Company (KEPCO), a subsidiary of pany also has on the agenda to cooper- cooperation beyond borders, sectors and generations in order to National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) ate with knowledge-based companies foster peace, stability and sustainable development in the region. which handles exploration operation in specialized in deep water explorations the Caspian Sea region in northern Iran, and also with the neighboring countries signed three research-based deals with for executing exploration projects in domestic companies, Shana reported. the region. As reported, signing these deals, Founded in January 1998, KEPCO is KEPCO aims to conduct comprehen- a subsidiary of NIOC which is mainly sive studies in the Caspian Sea region focused on oil and gas exploration and and expand its database for oil and gas development operations in the South discovery operations. Caspian Basin in Iran’s territory. The signed deals include a contract The company is in charge of all the with Dana Systems Co. for identifica- contracts signed by local and inter- tion of geological hazards and possible national companies regarding the ex- hydrocarbon zones using geophysical ploration and development of hydro- methods and geological and reservoir carbon reserves in the area including data in the Caspian Sea; another one the pertinent environmental matters. Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Markus Leitner (L) holds talks with Pars Geology Research Center for The Caspian Sea is divided into three with Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister for Water and Wastewater exploring the mechanisms of formation regions in terms of oil and gas reserves: Affairs Ghasem Taghizadeh Khamesi at the place of the ministry of mudflats and their effects on the cre- Northern, Middle, and Southern Cas- on Monday. ation of hydrocarbon reservoirs using pian. The Southern Caspian, which is In the meeting, Taghizadeh mentioned the Swiss government’s remote sensing technology in South in Iran’s territory, is the deepest with suggestion for establishment of a regional cooperation center Caspian Basin; and finally one deal was for modeling of sedimentary basin and and reservoir rock expansion in the oceanic depths of over 1,000 meters for startups active in the fields of water and wastewater, saying signed with Tavana Energy Company determination of the delta yield range Southern Caspian region. (3,300 ft). that “With 3000 years of history behind Iran’s water sector, our country has great potentials and capacities in terms of expertise and equipment.” Referring to the Iranian use of Qanat (subterranean aqueduct) in ancient times, Taghizadeh added: “Using aqueducts in the NITC overhauls 10 oil tankers since March country is an indication that Iranians have used various innovative ENERGY TEHRAN — National Iranian Tanker for the first time in the history of Iran’s shipping industry. ways to access water and for managing their water resources.” deskCompany (NITC) has overhauled 10 oil “Engines, generators, and electrical appliances all have Recently the Switzerland-based International Centre for Water tankers since the beginning of current Iranian calendar been repaired and stained and will not require major Management Services (CEWAS) held a workshop for Iranian year (March 21), the company’s managing director told repairs for the next five years,” Sardashti said. startups active in the field of water and wastewater in collaboration Mehr news agency. In late June, the 320,000-ton oil supertanker DORE was with Iran’s Water and Wastewater Engineering Company in Teh- Nasrollah Sardashti also announced that two tankers successfully dry-docked in Bandar Abbas at Iran ISOICO ran, during which it proposed to establish a regional cooperation have been already dry-docked for overhaul and as sched- to go through overhaul for the first time inside the country. center for startups in the field. uled seven or eight more oil tankers will be overhauled DORE belongs to the national Iranian oil tanker fleet Iran is going to cooperate with Switzerland in this regard and by the yearend. and is a “giant oil tanker” with a length of 333 meters. the country will be the hub for CEWAS activities in the region. In this way, NITC will finish the overhaul operation of It was the first time that repair and maintenance services 20 oil tankers in the current Iranian calendar year, while of a super oil vessel is assigned to a domestic repair yard. the company had previously announced that the plan for According to NITC Technical Advisor Ali Mansourzadeh, Renewables to become the this year is overhauling 12 tankers. before this Iranian technicians had successfully completed new normal at remote mines “We have not sent any tanker outside the country for the overhauling and maintenance operations of a variety overhaul in the present year”, Sardashti further emphasized. of smaller vessels in a 6-month period, including MARIA The Energy and Mines World Congress in Toronto provided insights In late July, the company successfully finished the 3 tanker with a capacity of 13,600 cubic meters, POLARIS into the recent developments of onsite renewable energy applications overhaul operation of supertanker “DORE” after a month. with a capacity of 45,000 tons, and ARK and ARGO each at remote mines. According to Sardashti, Iranian technicians managed with a capacity of 100,000 tons. repair operations of supertankers like DORE was carried Generally, the year 2019 has been identified as the tipping point. to repair the oil supertanker “DORE” inside the country However, due to some technological limitations, the out in foreign countries. The business case for partly substituting expensive fuel like diesel, heavy fuel oil (HFO) or gas by solar and wind had been positive on paper for years. However, actual projects have evolved slowly. In 2019, almost a dozen new projects have been officially announced and at the same time many more projects are under development Oil steadies on U.S.-China trade hopes, supply cuts and on the verge of being announced. Oil steadied above $65 a barrel on Tuesday, supported The “risk-on tone is still noticeable,” said Tamas Varga Nick Holland, CEO of Gold Fields, a mining company focused by hopes that the U.S.-China trade deal will bolster oil of oil broker PVM. The “next event to look out for is the on integrating renewables, pointed out in his keynote that costs demand in 2020 and the prospect of lower U.S. crude weekly U.S. oil inventory statistics.” savings are possible and a cost-efficient decentralisation of power supplies. Supply reports from oil industry group the American generation enabled by renewables comes with further advantages: The ‘Phase One’ agreement between the world’s two Petroleum Institute and the government’s Energy Infor- “Renewables make for great business – lower cost and supply security. largest economies has been “absolutely completed,” Larry mation Administration are expected to show U.S. crude Independence from the grid is critical – microgrids are the future.” Kudlow, a top White House adviser, said on Monday, add- inventories probably fell last week. Mining companies see the need to decarbonise and pursue in- ing that U.S. exports to China will double under the deal. The first of the two, from the API, was scheduled for itiatives that go well beyond renewables, such as electrification of Brent crude LCOc1, the global benchmark, slipped 12 release at 04:30 P.M. EST (2130 GMT) on Tuesday. The mining vehicles. These initiatives could further increase the electricity cents to $65.22 a barrel by 0945 GMT, while U.S. West government report follows on Wednesday. demand in mining and in the long run the need for locally generated Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 eased 14 cents to $60.07. Also supporting prices, the Organization of the Pe- renewable energy. “Christmas has definitely arrived early for oil pro- troleum of Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies like Renewable energy solutions ducers,” said Craig Erlam, analyst at brokerage OANDA. Russia - a grouping known as OPEC+ - are making a Miners are gaining trust in renewable energy solutions. The fear of “Brent could get closer to $70 before the rally starts to further oil supply cut of 500,000 barrels per day from production losses has been decreasing over the past years with every run on fumes.” Jan. 1 to support the market. new renewable energy system that has been added to a mine globally. The prolonged trade dispute has been a dampener This comes on top of the existing deal to trim supply by Before, the general attitude was characterized by ‘wait and see’, for oil demand and weighed on prices. Banks including 2020 price forecasts in the wake of the improving trade 1.2 million bpd that came into effect on Jan. 1 this year. but the mode has been changing in 2019 to ‘let’s act now’. The indi- JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have revised up their outlook and a new OPEC-led agreement to curb output. (Source: reuters.com) vidual decision makers today run a relatively low perceived risk by driving forward renewable energy projects. The solutions that are being built now are often more sophisti- cated than they were before, and they incorporate a higher share of renewables that is also enabled by storage solutions. The 5 biggest threats to oil and gas in 2020 The epicenters of these developments are Australia and Sub-Sa- By Tsvetana Paraskova director of corporate research Valentina haran Africa, two regions having substantial areas with insufficient Kretzschmar. public grids and typically excellent solar resources. After quite an eventful 2019 in which oil Europe’s oil and gas producers will At the same time, renewable energy development also has a lo- demand growth slowed to its lowest in years continue to feel the pressure to follow cal driver. Though the mining sector is rather global, the political and investors questioned the performance Repsol’s lead and commit to net zero pressure on mining players to add renewables creates additional of oil and gas stocks, the energy sector carbon emissions, she said. speed on a local level. meets 2020 with a package of risks that “And oil and gas exporters to Europe, In comparison to the physical lifetime of solar and wind assets, could further dampen the mood about the including Russian gas and U.S. LNG, could the lifetime of mines or the mining licenses are often rather short. industry and investors’ outlook for stocks. face a diminishing demand outlook and In addition, miners are used to relatively short-term energy supply Depressed oil demand growth, a possible an impact on their revenues from carbon for diesel, HFO and gas. shift in U.S. policies at home and abroad taxes,” Kretzschmar noted. Long-term purchase agreements for renewable energy often re- after the presidential election, the contin- 4- Oil and gas sector credibility quire a change of thinking and have slowed down the development ued pressure on the industry to address in the energy transition of many projects in the past. climate change, the stock market’s lack of The ‘hated’ oil and gas sector has not An approach for future growth confidence in energy stocks, and adequate managed to ‘sell’ to the markets the idea More and more companies have come up with redeployable levels of financing for natural gas projects (IEA) continues to see an oversupply on denly become much more oversupplied that it could be part of the solution, not solar solutions that allow for offering short-term PPAs. On the are the five key risks ahead for the energy the market, especially in the first half of than it already is. the problem. Investors have been shun- hardware-side, the costs of redeployable solar solutions have come sector next year, Wood Mackenzie’s Simon 2020, despite efforts from the OPEC+ co- Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie ning energy stocks amid concerns about down, but at the same time this approach is a bet on future growth Flowers writes. alition to strictly stick to the production Sanders, two of the front-runners in the oil demand in the future. of this segment. 1-Weak oil demand growth cuts in Q1 and pledges by OPEC’s leader Democratic Party’s race for nomination, According to WoodMac, Big Oil and Redeployability also means that new target projects need to be This year, oil demand growth has been Saudi Arabia that it will continue to cut have promised to ban fracking, on a colli- the national oil companies should follow available within a reasonable time period in the future. If not, the solar at its weakest since 2011, as slowing glob- more than it is expected to. sion course with the oil industry and even Repsol’s lead in pledging carbon neutrality assets would have to be stored in warehouses until new deployment, al economic growth and the U.S.-China If oil demand growth in 2020 were with some Democratic governors in some by 2050. which can prove to be costly. trade war weighed on every economy in the to disappoint again, OPEC+ will face an western oil states. 5-Financing for the ‘transition Several newly announced projects combine solar and wind power. world, including on the fastest-growing oil uphill task in rebalancing the market, It is doubtful, however, that a Presi- fuel’ One of the biggest disadvantages of solar and wind solutions is that import markets in Asia—China and India. WoodMac says. dent can single-handedly pass legislation Last but not least, the world will need they generate unsteady energy. The phase one trade deal last week is 2-Elections and energy policies that would stall U.S. oil and gas fracking, adequate levels of financing for gas and Solar and wind output are often negatively correlated, which means a de-escalation of the trade dispute and If a Democratic candidate were to beat according to WoodMac. liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, that when solar irradiation is high wind speeds are typically low, and could help the outlook on oil demand President Donald Trump in the 2020 elec- 3- Policies to fight climate change because right now, it’s natural gas that vice versa. This phenomenon allows for increasing the renewable growth for 2020. tion, they could not only try to scale down The European Union’s (EU) “green new will play the ‘transition fuel’ role to keep energy share in the system while minimizing the need for storage. Almost all forecasters and analysts U.S. exploration and production, but they deal” could trigger global acceptance of car- power supply steady in a growing mix of In his presentation at the Energy and Mines World Congress, expect demand growth to pick up next could rethink U.S. policies globally, which bon taxes and tariffs to protect EU products solar and wind power globally. Thomas Hillig, Managing Director of THEnergy, said that for mining year from the very low growth this year. would significantly impact the energy in- from imports with high carbon footprint, The “industry needs to work harder in companies it makes sense to consider all sustainability levers and WoodMac sees oil demand growth more dustry and markets. for example, WoodMac’s Flowers says. 2020 to demonstrate the benefits of gas that also hydro could experience a renaissance: “In a research project than doubling to 1.35 million bpd from For example, current sanctions on Iran Under the Green Deal, the EU pledges and its environmental credentials – in that is supported by the German government with approximately $1 just 600,000 bpd this year, thanks to ma- and Venezuela are keeping some 2 million to cut emissions by at least 50 percent by tandem with carbon capture and storage million, THEnergy is analysing in collaboration with two universities, rine diesel fuels in China and natural gas bpd of oil off the market, so if a President 2030 from the current target of cutting – to ensure that finance for much-needed RWTH Aachen and TU München, the potential of hydro-electric liquids (NGLs) demand for the growing Democrat were to rethink current U.S. emissions by 40 percent. This pledge gas projects doesn’t dry up,” WoodMac’s solutions in the mining sector. We are still looking for mines in Peru U.S. petrochemicals capacity. policies regarding the sanctions and the could have a significant impact on ener- Flowers said. to participate - free of any charge.” Yet, the International Energy Agency Iran nuclear deal, the market could sud- gy companies, according to WoodMac’s (Source: oilprice.com) (Source: globalminingreview.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 18, 2019 Changing label of Iran’s sanctions to make Move to multipolarity driving U.S.-China rift GLOBAL TIMES — China and the US agreed on it harder to remove sanctions: Nephew the text of the phase one trade deal on Friday. How will the deal influence China-US relations? Is there By Javad Heirannia any possibility for the two countries to decouple in TEHRAN (MNA) –Richard Nephew, who served as the future? Global Times (GT) reporter Li Qingqing the lead sanctions expert for the US team negotiating talked to Susan Thornton (Thornton), former US with Iran, is of the opinion that “It is true that this is acting assistant secretary of state, on the sidelines the Trump Administration’s intention: to make it much of the 2nd Round of China-US Leading Scholars Di- harder to remove the sanctions in the future because alogue held on Friday and Saturday in Shanghai. now entities and individuals are considered “terrorists” China and the US agreed on the text of the phase in addition to “proliferators”.” one trade deal on Friday. How do you think a final The fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at trade deal, if reached, will shape China-US relations Columbia University, says that it is harder to see US in the long term? Will it stop bilateral relations from pressure on Iran “the president has the authority to worsening? remove these designations no matter what they are, A: The phase one trade deal being concluded is provided that they are not required explicitly under US an excellent first step. We need to get this done in law. The term “nuclear-related sanctions” has no legal order to have a chance to move into a more productive standing in US law, only in the JCPOA as a term of art.” and constructive mode. So, I am very happy that we Following is the text of the interview: were able to reach this phase one deal, assuming it is The United States recently sanctioned Iran’s central going to be finished and signed. Depending on what bank under the label “fight against terrorism”. What happens with that and many other things, we will changes has this label made to Iranian trade? see if we go on to phase two. My feeling is that the A: I do not believe that this decision has made any trade relationship between the US and China is so real difference in Iranian trade, though this is because the existing sanctions were already sufficiently severe as to preclude much of it. This is a difficulty that the United States will soon have, as there are few “new” sectors, entities or individuals to sanction that has not already been sanctioned or affected by other measures already in place. Of course, the existing measures will continue to have very serious economic impacts so the degree to which measures are “new” is only meaningful as part of the political narrative for the Administration. A Few days ago US sanctioned IRISL. IRISL was with IRISL for six months. This is an unusual situation 2015 but it may make sense to broaden the definition sanctioned beforehand and changed its sanction’s label. and reflects a sense in the US government that taking of what sanctions could be removed if a future deal is What is the effect of changing the label of IRISL on precipitous action here could be damaging, if not to negotiated with Iran in a future administration. shipping the agricultural commodities, food, medicine, humanitarian trade than to the narrative that the United It is also worth noting: the fact that so many US and medical devices to Iran via IRISL? States is not trying to deny such trade. officials and their supporters outside in the think A: This measure will potentially have a meaningful President Trump has changed some labels of Iran tank community have said explicitly that they are effect. Previously, IRISL was sanctioned but only as sanctions. Since removing them are not under the Pres- changing the nature of these sanctions from “nucle- an element of the Iranian government. The sanctions ident’s authorization. Then, the US future president is ar-related” to something broader in order to make did not preclude foreign business with IRISL. Now, the not able to remove them that were under the label of it hard to negotiate a new deal with Iran will make sanctions will create real costs for foreign entities or Iran nuclear program sanctions. What is your opinion? it politically easier for a future Administration to big and so complicated that we will probably never individuals who do business with it, essentially recreating A: It is true that this is the Trump Administration’s change the terminology used. stop having conversations about trade frictions, trade the situation that existed for IRISL prior to the JCPOA. intention: to make it much harder to remove the sanctions Are there other sanctions to be imposed on Iran? problems and trying to reach new agreements. And I Ultimately, I suspect that this measure will have in the future because now entities and individuals are A: Almost certainly. There are entities and indi- think that›s not a bad thing for US-China relations. less impact on Iranian humanitarian trade than could considered “terrorists” in addition to “proliferators.” viduals not sanctioned, sectors not targeted thus far. Although many don›t think a new cold war sim- be anticipated, simply because there are other cargo Ultimately, though, the president has the authority But, of course, there is a difference between whether ilar to the one between the Soviet Union and the US carriers that will be prepared to operate in and with to remove these designations no matter what they are, such sanctions could be imposed and whether those will happen between China and the US, many fields Iran. But, there are many fewer of them today than provided that they are not required explicitly under sanctions will be impactful in excess of the pressure such as people-to-people exchange have suffered. in the past. US law. The term “nuclear-related sanctions” has no created by existing measures. In my view, there are What›s your take? To address the immediate humanitarian risks, the legal standing in US law, only in the JCPOA as a term few sanctions that could yet be imposed on Iran that A: I don›t think a new cold war is coming. I think United States has permitted transactions to “wind down” of art. Grouping those sanctions made sense in 2013- would have the power of the measures already imposed. there are a lot of things about the Cold War that are very different from the situation between the US and China today. Frankly, the current atmosphere and environment of globalization are two situations different from the Cold War period. U.S. is still lying about unwind able war in Afghanistan The US has recently passed bills on Hong Kong and Xinjiang. How will the US policy on Taiwan be TEHRAN (FNA) — A confidential trove Even the most strident warmongers changing in the short and long term? of government documents published by understand that the war in Afghanistan A: I think the US policy on Taiwan has been pretty American media outlets reveals that senior is unwinnable. Their alternative to with- consistent. I do not think it will change very much in US officials lied about the war in Afghan- drawal is to maintain an indefinite troop the short term. I think it will depend a lot on what istan throughout the 18-year campaign, presence, akin to the permanent stationing China›s actions and changes in its position are. But making rosy pronouncements they knew of US troops in Germany and Japan after for the US policy, I think we have done a good job of to be false and hiding unmistakable evi- World War II. This is a ludicrous idea. keeping stability across the Taiwan Straits for the dence the war had become unwinnable. America’s occupation won’t guarantee last 40 years, and that is something in the interests The documents were generated by a the security and prosperity of the war- of Beijing, Washington and Taipei. So, I expect the federal project examining the root failures torn country. US policy on Taiwan will continue. of the longest armed conflict in US history. The political will to end the war in It seems that China-US decoupling is happening, They include more than 2,000 pages of Afghanistan exists. One recent poll shows especially in technology. How do you see the trend? previously unpublished notes of interviews that fewer than half of Americans say the Will it spread to other broader fields? with people who played a direct role in initial decision to use military force in A: I think this is probably the most urgent issue for the war, from generals and diplomats to Afghanistan was correct. Another new the US and China to tackle. There are a lot of countries aid workers and Afghan officials. poll finds that a majority of Americans involved. But it is very important for the public to The US government tried to shield the would support a decision to withdraw have trust in technology, and it is also going to be identities of the vast majority of those in- troops from Afghanistan, while only about important for the technological ecosystem to develop terviewed for the project and conceal nearly one in five would oppose it. with interconnections. Having the development of all of their remarks. In the interviews, more The unwindable war will go on for as separate spheres of technology is not desirable. My than 400 insiders have offered unrestrained But letting the Afghanistan war con- the nation’s territory and 65 percent of long as Afghans themselves are resist- hope is that we can start working on some rules and criticism of what went wrong in Afghanistan tinue for so many years has been a ter- its population. ant to US occupation. Washington and can agree upon approaches that will allow us to not and how the United States became mired rible mistake. Roughly 2,400 US service One thing the world has learned is that its NATO allies can dispatch a million have this technological decoupling. I think it is in in nearly two decades of warfare. members and 4,000 American contractors American interventionism can create more troops in Afghanistan and it would only the interest of everybody. The interviews, through an extensive have been killed there, including four failed states than it “liberates”. Such was have a short-term effect on the security Many Chinese people feel that US President array of voices, bring into sharp relief just over recent days. the case in Iraq and Libya. The threat of situation. Donald Trump›s policy is very unpredictable, even the core failings of the war that persist The war in Afghanistan has become a “failing states” has been there all along. Afghanistan’s conflict will only end mutable. In terms of China policy, which sector in the to this day. They underscore how three multigenerational exercise in absurdity. Instability does yield insecurity. The only through political arrangements by the US has the biggest influence over his China policy? presidents — George W. Bush, Barack Many of the soldiers now fighting and thing that can ultimately guarantee the Afghans themselves. The sooner the US A: I think President Trump›s approach to the Obama and Donald Trump — and their dying were infants when the war began. independence and self-determination of and company come around to that con- US-China relationship has focused on two big issues. military commanders have been unable Yet almost two decades and more than a the Afghan people is an Afghan govern- cept and finally end their occupation the A big focus for him, even before he was in office, was to deliver on their claims to prevail in trillion dollars later, the US-backed Afghan ment that has its own independence and sooner international money and resources Afghanistan. can be invested to rebuild Afghanistan. the US-China trade relationship and the US trade government controls only 55 percent of self-determination. relationships with many other countries. The other thing that Trump is very interested in is the issue of trying to reach a deal on the denuclearization of North Korea. I think he hoped very much that he could work with China to get that deal. There have U.S. needs open-mindedness in 5G race with China been frustrations on the US part, and probably on China›s part, too. But I still very much hope that the By Wang Wenwen the hard work of all Chinese people, which the US despises but simply has no way to duplicate. China’s response to US and China could figure out a way to get us into GLOBAL TIMES - China leads the world’s 5G development, the US squeeze has been to deepen its domestic market a process where we can continue talking to North which the US calls a race. and open it further and to invest more in 5G development. Korea about the denuclearization. I think that would Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump said, “The This is the way China faces up to competition be beneficial to all sides. race to 5G is on and America must win.” The question is, how? headwinds. On the contrary, the US way is to crack How do you see the future international order Over the past year, we have seen the US ramp up down on others at the cost of its own development. in the context of intensifying competition between efforts to squeeze out Chinese tech giant Huawei as a Paulson rightly pointed out that openness has been the China and the US? 5G supplier and even pressure its allies to close the door A: I think there is a big change under way in the on the Chinese telecommunications company, which comparative advantage of the US, but what is happening international order. We have had 30 years of basi- aims to force China to retreat or give way to the strategic in the 5G race is perhaps the start of the US losing its cally a unipolar system after the end of the Cold War. information, communication and technology industry traditional competitive spirit and national advantage. Now, we are moving into a much more multipolar and use the US dominant supply position as leverage in China used to look to the US during its development. system and that is one of the underlying causes of the global 5G race. While China still lags behind the US in terms of scientific the trouble in adjusting the US-China relationship On Monday, the US House passed legislation that would investment and AI talent, the Chinese government, and other things in the international system. The US bar the US government from buying telecommunications behind China in 5G. In a recent Washington Post op-ed, companies and social sectors have all made scientific input and China need the international system to contin- equipment from companies deemed to be national security Chairman of the Paulson Institute Henry M. Paulson Jr., an important budgetary component. The government ue to be strong as we have both been the enormous threats, including Huawei, citing “malicious foreign also former US treasury secretary, acknowledged that is also thinking of measures to make the country’s beneficiaries of this system. Maybe China was not interference.” “Washington needs to focus not simply on trying to slow scientific strategy facilitate the professional pursuit quite ready to be a big player in contributing to the But still, China has embraced 5G at a faster pace. In early China down, but on accelerating efforts at home” to close of individuals. strengthening of the international system, but I think November, China rolled out its commercial 5G networks the gap with China quickly. As both China and the US have recognized 5G as a it›s learning now that it should step up and do that. nationwide, and one week later it launched research and Such rethink comes in time, and China can be the very critical enabler of future competitiveness and the US But China cannot do it alone, and the US cannot do development efforts into 6G networks. example to the US on how to catch up. China used to be is poised to catch up, the ball is now in the US court. it alone. We need other countries to participate and Despite the US lead in cutting-edge innovation, American a laggard 40 years ago, but gradually rose to become the Will it be open-minded enough to engage in healthy work together on that. elites are well aware of the fact that their country is falling world’s second-largest economy through state efforts and competition with China? I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7

‘Crows in the Rain is a pathway to UNHCR representative: Iran region’s top assistance every person’s infinite inner world’ provider to refugees IRAN DAILY — Iran ranks first in the region in terms By Marjohn Sheikhi of providing services to refugees, and is single-handedly shouldering the load of accepting and settling refugees TEHRAN (MNA) – In an exclusive interview with Mehr, in many different aspects, said the representative of the the successful Tehran-based post-rock band ‘Crows in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UN- Rain’ aptly described the band as a “pathway to every per- HCR) in Iran. son’s infinite inner world.” Speaking in an exclusive interview with Iran Daily, Ivo Post-rock is one of those really tricky genres. The music Freijsen, added the Islamic Republic is the world’s sixth could either be the best thing you’ve ever heard in your life and top refugee destination. will continue to be on loop to the end of time, or it may come He noted that Iran provides refugees living in the country across as generic and repetitive and completely unmemorable with the same services, structures and facilities it offers its and already ticked off your playlist after the first listen. nationals and refrains from discriminating against them, Fortunately for the Tehran-based ‘Crows in the Rain’, their adding, thus, the Islamic Republic is worthy of apprecia- music falls into the first category. Each track could easily be tion for its efforts. someone’s favorite, and I, personally, have a hard time skipping Commenting on the 40th year of Afghan refugees’ presence on any of them. The music, composed on piano, electric guitar, in Iran, Freijsen expressed gratitude toward the country bass and drums, tugs at your heartstrings with its mournful, for the services it has provided Afghan nationals with and melancholic tone, and revitalizes your artistic calling, no matter its equal treatment of them throughout all these years. how much or little of it you think you have. Turning to his upcoming visit, along with an Iranian “What has attracted us to this particular genre is its ability delegation, to Geneva for taking part in the first Global to represent the infinite magnificence of the smallest moments Refugee Forum which will take place on December 17 and we have lived,” the band said in explanation of the appeal of the 18, 2019, he said, “Our most important message in this post-rock genre that brought Crows in the Rain into existence trip will be that Iran should not be left alone in carrying some five years ago. out this enormous task (hosting refugees). Our message is Faithful to the band’s name, each track sounds like the gentle that although 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees is a long pitter-patter of rain against the windowpane and a pleasant scent time, this must not cause the international community to of the petrichor that comes after. stop assisting the country in this great challenge.” “Emotions such as sorrow, loss, grievance...have always Shifting to Washington’s sanctions on Tehran, Freijsen acted as strong driving forces for our music and we find great fragility and infinite purity in these emotions.” Bands, even the highly successful and well-established ones, are hardly ever consistent with the quality of the music they of this essence. genre in the music industry around the world since the begin- produce. That has never seemed to be an issue for the Crows in What is the appeal of the post-rock genre that brought ning; hence, this has never been a serious concern to us. For sure the Rain, with four albums already under their belt, and a fifth ‘Crows in the Rain’ into existence? we’ve faced many challenges in our way due to the restrictions one soon to be released. A: We don’t insist on playing in the Post Rock genre but implemented in Iran. Challenges particularly with regards to When asked about their ‘secret’, the band said “We have a till today, Post Rock has given us the best possible platform the limitations in the music industry of Iran and communicating principle in our band which is no piece is released unless we are for expressing what we experience in ourselves. Apart from with the audience; Nonetheless, these challenges have prompted deeply influenced or moved by it when we listen to it.” this matter, what has attracted us to this particular genre is its our growth and development in many ways too. It’s also worth What follows is my interview with Crows in the Rain about ability to represent the infinite magnificence of the smallest mentioning that the cultural context of our country and society the story behind the formation of the band, their aspirations, moments we have lived. has created a distinct effect on our music too. the process of composing a piece, and the joyful moments and Your band name is indeed a very interesting choice, and As mentioned, Post Rock, in many parts of the world, is challenges they have encountered along the way to be where also very telling of the sound of your music. So are the artworks not a well-distinguished genre but particularly in Iran, there they are today. for each album. Tell us about the story behind them. Why haven’t have never been any attempts to promote a platform for this The first time I listened to a track by ‘Crows in the Rain’, we yet heard a track by your band with crows cawing in the rain genre or any other non-mainstream genres to be introduced and which was ‘You Are Still Here Floating’ from your 2016 album, I in the background? publicized on a big scale. This, however, has never acted as a didn’t even entertain the possibility that the band would actually A: We talked about the story behind our band’s name earlier setback for us; therefore, we don’t feel the need to overcome be hailing from Iran. Please tell us about the band. How and but regarding the sound of rain and crows, these elements were this hindrance and any progress we’ve ever made, small or big, why it was formed, the members and their musical backgrounds, included in the first track ever recorded and the name of the has always brought us joy and delight. the visions, etc.? track is “Crows in the Rain” which has not been performed live Your latest album, ‘Sorrow for An Unfinished Dream’, A: There was no initial planning for the formation of the band. or released anywhere till today. Perhaps in the near future, this judging by the name of some of the tracks, seems to be built on The idea behind forming a band stemmed from the friendship piece, along with other pieces will be released. the true story of the Japanese girl Sadako, who tried to make a between Masih and Hamed. As mentioned in many other inter- You performed several live concerts in Iran. How were the thousand origami cranes to be granted a wish, which in her case, added, “We, along with our partners, express our concern views, in October 2014 on a rainy day, we (Masih and Hamed) experience and feedback? When will be your next concert in Iran? was to live through her disease Leukemia caused by the radia- over the economic circumstances in Iran which not only got together and played for the first time and decided to record A: For our first concert, we had serious concerns about selling tion in the wake of Hiroshima bombing. Tell us more about the are impacting refugees in the country, but also affecting everything we played. Hours later, our very first piece was com- out the tickets but in just an hour and a half, we were sold out! album, and why you decided to focus on this story in particular. Iranians themselves.” posed and recorded entirely from improvisation. We stood by the In that concert, we played the tracks that were supposed to be A: We used Sadako Sasaki’s story as a shell to develop and In May 2018, President Donald Trump pulled the US window while listening to our first piece and looking outside; released in the third album and our audience had never heard express the emotions we experienced during composing the out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed it was raining heavily while a flock of crows was flying above them before. The feedback we received during and after the tracks of this album. Each track has a special meaning to each between Iran and the P5+1 in July 2015, and reimposed the house. This was the inspiration for the name of the group. concert was remarkably positive and a surprise to us and that of the members of our band and Sadako’s story truly gave us a Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Tehran, whose con- Hamed Fahimi Joo is our guitarist who has had many ex- became a motivation to have another concert at a bigger venue, unique approach to articulate our mind. It’s worth mentioning sequences include limiting money transfer to and from periences playing in genres such as Rock, Fusion, Blues, and the main hall of Azadi Tower with 300 seats available, in less that we have always had a special interest in the Japanese culture the Islamic Republic. Experimental in other bands before. Masih Taj, who’s another than a month. Later we also had concerts at the University of and we composed a track called Hiroshima which we included On Iran’s assistance for refugees, he said it is of great member of our band, was a pianist before the band was formed; Tehran, Evan Shams Hall, and Niavaran cultural center. in that album (named “This is our cry” in the tracklist) and this importance that governments support refugees and those however, he did not have any professional career in music be- Yet, from the first day of forming this band, we decided to helped us significantly in shaping the concept of the album. who leave their countries for another state due to different fore Crows in the Rain. In 2017, after the release of the second dedicate ourselves to creating music regardless of its career-wise How do you go about composing a track? Tell me about reasons. album, Ashkan Karimi also joined the band as the bassist. He successes or setbacks and we didn’t draft a set plan for any of the process, the inspiration, and the challenges. Which mem- Freijsen added thus, Iran’s acceptance of a large number started pursuing his musical career as a bassist professionally the events and concerts or other sides of this journey in advance. ber(s) is in charge of coming up with the idea and the general of refugees, whose lives had been at risk, and hosting them after joining the band. Lastly, Masood Keramat is a drummer This is still a core principle to us and makes us genuinely excited sound of each track? in the country for years, alone, are instances of international who joined us later and is currently an active member of our and enthusiastic about every event we have as if it is our very A: All of the tracks we have ever composed have been based support for refugees. band. Masood has had years of experience in the field of music, first concert. This has allowed us to connect with our audiences on improvisation. We always gather together and one of us In addition, he said, Iran provides refugees with a large playing in genres such as Progressive, Rock, and Experimental. on a much deeper level. starts playing based on whatever emotions they are experiencing number of services allowing them to live in the country As someone who favors dark, melancholic vibes above When we are performing live on the stage, where there’s less at that moment and the other members slowly join and start like other citizens and use the same services Iranians are all else, listening to your music is a real treat that never disap- distance with our audience, expressing our emotions in the form playing along and develop the piece that’s being crafted. This being offered. points. From your first released track ‘Forgotten Childhood’ of music with them feels as if we are sharing our world with process continues until the end of the piece. The entire course In Iran, refugees can go to school and pursue their studies (2016) to the latest album ‘Sorrow for An Unfinished Dream’ them and they are sharing theirs with us and I think this builds of composing a piece is generated through an empathetic and at all various educational stages and even enter univer- (2019), the traces of sorrow and suffering are palpable. Where up this strange and unique atmosphere in the room that creates telepathic process between us as a group; hence we can’t con- sity, the UNHCR representative noted, adding, they are do these acute feelings come from? And how do you keep this a distinctive experience for each and all of us. sider any singular member of our band to be the sole composer also provided with the same health and treatment services consistency and distinctive sound in all of the tracks you have Our next concert will be after the release of the fifth album, of any track. Iranian nationals have access to. so far released? in winter 2020. Based on what we have planned, we’ll have Where are you planning to take the band next, music-wise? “A major part of the refugees in Iran are from Afghan- A: We have always strived to play music solely for the sake a concert in Tehran and some other cities in Iran as well. In- Are you working on a new album? istan. Resolving the problem faced by Afghan refugees of music itself and what we experience in our inner world. formation on the time and the venue of these concerts will be A: We certainly have short term and long term agendas; in Iran and their repatriation to their own country fail to Certainly, every band has their visions and dreams. One of our announced soon. however, we’re not restricting ourselves to these plans and we be solely dependent on providing sufficient humanitarian biggest and most important visions is to enable anyone who Have you performed in any other country? Do you have try to navigate our path through this journey with an open mind assistance. First, security must be ensured in Afghanistan listens to our music to explore and delve into their inner world any plans to? What about working with a foreign musician as and flexibility. Currently, we’ve finished recording the fifth so that fewer individuals would emigrate from the country which they may suppress or ignore and to listen to and perhaps collaboration? album, mix and mastering have been finalized and if all goes and, then, the ground should be prepared for the [volun- grasp an experience of that world within. A: Yes, we’ve had offers to perform in other countries such according to plan, our fifth album will be released this winter. tary] repatriation of other Afghan refugees.” We have a principle in our band which is no piece is released as China and some European countries such as Germany and Our vision is to move towards a purer and more exclusive genre This, he stressed, to a large extent pertains to the Af- unless we are deeply influenced or moved by it when we listen Switzerland. Besides, we are planning for next year’s events. with its distinct signature inscribed to Crows in the Rain. The ghan government, urging that by ensuring security in the to it and every time we choose the pieces that affect us between We’ve also talked to some foreign bands and international re- atmosphere, melodies, and emotions in the upcoming album country, with the international community’s assistance, the ones we have composed, we come to the understanding that cord labels for future collaborations which we’ll inform our are dissimilar to any of our previous pieces and perhaps this the Afghan government should prepare the ground for the these tracks are filled with the emotions that we are experiencing audiences about this news soon. album is the beginning of a new chapter for Crows in the Rain. repatriation of its nationals. in ourselves. Emotions such as sorrow, loss, grievance, etc. have How do you describe the experience of being a non-main- If you could describe ‘Crows in the Rain’-- its sound, “Until that happens, we are required to continue sup- always acted as strong driving forces for our music and we find stream musician in Iran? How has living in Iran influenced your its visions, its concept -- with non-musical terms, how would porting [Afghan] refugees. To this end, the United Nations great fragility and infinite purity in these emotions. From the musical development? Do you face any particular challenges you do it? High Commissioner for Refugees and the Iranian Interior start till now these emotions have been and are still the essence for reaching your targeted audience, and if yes, how do you A: Crows in the Rain is a pathway to every person’s infinite Ministry’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Af- of any new music we create and produce and despite all the overcome them? inner world. fairs support those refugees who come and express will- changes along the way, we have always tried to keep the purity A: We were well aware that Post Rock is not a mainstream ingness to return to their own country and provide them with transportation facilities and financial assistance to facilitate their repatriation.” Freijsen emphasized that “I must explicitly announce Miko Peled: Zionism intolerant, violent and racist, exact opposite of Judaism that [the extent of] the UNHCR’s capability directly depends TEHRAN (FNA) — Miko Peled, prominent People in Israel are not treated the of one another. Israel claims to be a Jewish state. Are on the financial assistance provided by governments and anti-Israeli activist, says Israel provides a same, and they do not tolerate one another. How is the hierarchical society formed Israelis ranked based on the religion? our credit is provided this way. Receiving this assistance racist context to people in the occupied lands; How do you find the society there? in Israel? A: Israel claims it is a Jewish state, and it has become more difficult in the past few years. This comes hence, everyone raised in that society will A: It is not surmising that Israel is a society A: The higher one is on the ladder, the less claims Zionism is a Jewish ideology. But both as the number of the demands and tasks requested from suffer from being treated different degrees with a high level of intolerance. Because it is a tolerance people show toward him. People of these claims are false. Israel is not Jewish, the UNHCR, as an organization responsible for assisting of racism. racist society. Israel is wholly built on a racist with European background are considered as it treats the Orthodox Jews very poorly, refugees, increases continuously. However, the amount of Speaking in an exclusive interview with ideology which is called Zionism. Children are better off in terms of schools and opportuni- and the ultra-orthodox Jews even worst. the financial resources we receive, fails to be in proportion FNA, Peled said, “Israel pretends the Arabs raised in that society and getting faced with ties in comparison to Israelis whose parents The Israeli Rabbinate is in charge of all of the to the demands requested from us, which makes our task are minority, which is untrue. Majority of a racist education system. Even in the school with probably darker skin come from Arab life-cycle events which is an attempt to control difficult.” Israelis are Arabs, but they are treated like time, those who have come from European countries. Blacks, Ethiopians and Arab Pal- the religion which allows them to run a state He added that the UNHCR’s solution to this problem has minorities without rights.” countries in comparison to those who are estinians are suffering a big deal of racism religion. This is how Israel operates, and does been to assign different degrees of priority to its measures Miko Peled is a Tel Aviv-born author and from Arab countries, go to better school. One and intolerance, as well. Israel pretends the not provide much choice to people who do not to support refugees. activist. He was born and raised in Tel Aviv, but who grows up there will end up in racism, Arabs are minority, which is untrue. Majority want to be a part of that. Many Jews around “Reaching out to vulnerable refugees has been among turned into a prominent anti-Zionist activist. in a racist and intolerant society. What is of Israelis are Arabs, but they are treated the world have technically no interest in Israel our top priorities. We have done our best to prioritize them. He is the author of The General’s Son: Jour- interesting about Israel is that it pretends like minorities without rights. Non-Jews are and they are happy with where they are as a In addition, the UNHCR has attempted to incorporate ney of an Israeli in Palestine, and Injustice, to be a very liberal and tolerant society, but guaranteed to suffer from discrimination in minority wherever they reside. Zionism is the refugees into the [host] countries’ national systems in such the Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five. there is no question that the society is racist every aspect of the life. That is the nature of exact opposite of Judaism, as it is intolerant, a way that each state’s national services can be accessible Below is the full text of the interview: and different levels of society are intolerant that society. violent and racist. by the refugees.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS DECEMBER 18, 2019

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SpaceX NASA’s treasure map for water ice on Mars

NASA has big plans for returning astronauts to the Moon in 2024, launches Asian a stepping stone on the path to sending humans to Mars. But where should the first people on the Red Planet land? A new paper published in Geophysical Research Letters will help by providing a map of water ice believed to be as little as an communication inch (2.5 centimeters) below the surface. Water ice will be a key consideration for any potential landing site. With little room to spare aboard a spacecraft, any human missions to Mars will have to harvest what’s already available satellite for drinking water and making rocket fuel. By Paul Brinkmann The company confirmed that the spacecraft had reached its intended orbit SpaceX successfully launched on Monday about 28 minutes after launch. evening a communications satellite that The first-stage booster flew back and is owned jointly by two companies, one landed on the company’s droneship, “Of in Japan and one in Malaysia, aboard a Course I Still Love You,” stationed in the SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. and Singapore- SpaceX attempted to catch the rocket Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. Atlantic Ocean. It was the 47th booster based Kacific Broadband Satellites. nose cone, or fairing, with two other The rocket launched as planned at 7:10 recovery for the space company. The first-stage booster for Monday’s ships, Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief, but p.m. EST from Launch Complex 40 at The Boeing-built satellite, called JCSAT launch was used previously on two SpaceX the two pieces fell into the ocean. The Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The 18/Kacific 1, is designed to provide mobile cargo missions to the International Space company said on Twitter it would fish late autumn weather was ideal for the and broadband services across the Asia- Station, CRS-17 in May and CRS-18 in them out and attempt to refurbish the NASA calls this concept “in situ resource utilization,” and it’s launch with light clouds and light breeze. Pacific region. The owners are Tokyo-based July. fairing anyway. an important factor in selecting human landing sites on Mars. Satellites orbiting Mars are essential in helping scientists determine the best places for building the first Martian research station. The authors of the new paper make use of data from two of those The Earth was already ‘stressed’ before dinosaur extinction spacecraft, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and Scientists agree today’s climate crisis is primarily driven by tablets. Carbon dioxide in water dissolves calcium carbonate. Mars Odyssey orbiter, to locate water ice that could potentially human activity – but before the problems we inadvertently During the formation of the shells, CO2 likely affects shell be within reach of astronauts on the Red Planet. engineered existed, similar processes have occurred on composition even without dissolving them. “You wouldn’t need a backhoe to dig up this ice. You could numerous occasions. For this study, the researchers examined shells collected use a shovel,” said the paper’s lead author, Sylvain Piqueux of Researchers investigating the state of the planet at the from the Lopez de Bertodano Formation, a well-preserved, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “We’re time the dinosaurs were wiped out after a colossal asteroid fossil-rich area on the west side of Seymour Island in Antarctica. continuing to collect data on buried ice on Mars, zeroing in on impact, say they have new evidence Earth was already unstable They analyzed the shells’ calcium isotope compositions using a the best places for astronauts to land.” due to a rapid increase in carbon in the oceans. state-of-the-art technique developed in Jacobson’s laboratory Liquid water can’t last in the thin air of Mars; with so little air The study, led by researchers at Northwestern University, at Northwestern. The method involves dissolving shell samples pressure, it evaporates from a solid to a gas when exposed to the is the first to measure the calcium isotope composition of to separate calcium from various other elements, followed atmosphere.Martian water ice is locked away underground throughout fossilized clam and snail shells, which date back to the by analysis with a mass spectrometer. the planet’s mid-latitudes. These regions near the poles have been Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event. “We can measure calcium isotope variations with studied by NASA’s Phoenix lander, which scraped up ice, and MRO, The researchers found that – in the run-up to the extinction high precision,” Jacobson said. “And those isotope which has taken many images from space of meteor impacts that event – the shells’ chemistry shifted in response to a surge variations are like fingerprints to help us understand have excavated this ice. To find ice that astronauts could easily dig of carbon in the oceans. what happened.” up, the study’s authors relied on two heat-sensitive instruments: This carbon influx was likely due to long-term eruptions Using this method, the team found surprising information. MRO’s Mars Climate Sounder and the Thermal Emission Imaging from the Deccan Traps – one of the largest volcanic features “We expected to see some changes in the shells’ composition, System (THEMIS) camera on Mars Odyssey. on Earth – about 200,000-square-miles of solidified basalt caused the extinction.” but we were surprised by how quickly the changes occurred,” Why use heat-sensitive instruments when looking for ice? located in modern India. The study will be published in the January 2020 issue Dr. Linzmeier said. “We also were surprised that we didn’t see Buried water ice changes the temperature of the Martian surface. During the years leading up to the asteroid impact, the of the journal Geology, which comes out later this month. more change associated with the extinction horizon itself.” The study’s authors cross-referenced temperatures suggestive Deccan Traps spewed massive amounts of carbon dioxide Previous studies have explored the potential effects of The researchers said that understanding how the Earth of ice with other data, such as reservoirs of ice detected by radar (CO2) into the atmosphere. The concentration of CO2 acidified the Deccan Traps eruptions on the mass extinction event, responded to past extreme warming and CO2 input can or seen after meteor impacts. Data from Odyssey’s Gamma Ray the oceans, directly affecting the organisms living there. but many have examined bulk sediments and used different help us prepare for how the planet will respond to current, Spectrometer, which is tailor-made for mapping water ice deposits, “Our data suggest that the environment was changing chemical tracers. human-caused climate change. were also useful. before the asteroid impact,” said Benjamin Linzmeier, the By focusing on a specific organism, the researchers “To some degree, we think that ancient ocean acidification As expected, all these data suggest a trove of water ice study’s first author. “Those changes appear to correlate with gained a more precise, higher-resolution record of the events are good analogs for what’s happening now with throughout the Martian poles and mid-latitudes. But the map the eruption of the Deccan Traps.” ocean’s chemistry. anthropogenic CO2 emissions,” Professor Jacobson said. reveals particularly shallow deposits that future mission planners “The Earth was clearly under stress before the major “Shells grow quickly and change with water chemistry,” “Perhaps we can use this work as a tool to better predict may want to study further. mass extinction event,” said Andrew D Jacobson, a senior Dr. Linzmeier said. “Because they live for such a short period what might happen in the future. We can’t ignore the rock While there are lots of places on Mars scientists would like to author of the paper. of time, each shell is a short, preserved snapshot of the record. The Earth system is sensitive to large and rapid visit, few would make practical landing sites for astronauts. Most “The asteroid impact coincides with pre-existing carbon ocean’s chemistry.” additions of CO2. Current emissions will have environmental scientists have homed in on the northern and southern mid-latitudes, cycle instability. Seashells mostly are composed of calcium carbonate, the consequences.” which have more plentiful sunlight and warmer temperatures than But that doesn’t mean we have answers to what actually same mineral found in chalk, limestone and some antacid (Source: The Independent) the poles. But there’s a heavy preference for landing in the northern hemisphere, which is generally lower in elevation and provides more atmosphere to slow a landing spacecraft. Finding a killer electron hot spot in Stunning image of mysterious A large portion of a region called Arcadia Planitia is the most tempting target in the northern hemisphere. The map shows Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts interstellar object released lots of blue and purple in this region, representing water ice less than one foot (30 centimeters) below the surface; warm colors are over two feet (60 centimeters) deep. Sprawling black zones on the map represent areas where a landing spacecraft would sink into fine dust. Piqueux is planning a comprehensive campaign to continue studying buried ice across different seasons, watching how the abundance of this resource changes over time. The more we look for near-surface ice, the more we find,” said MRO Deputy Project Scientist Leslie Tamppari of JPL. “Observing Mars with multiple spacecraft over the course of years continues to provide us with new ways of discovering this ice.” (Source: Science Daily)

Huge burst of stars resulted in

A collaboration between researchers in not been clear when or where these killer NASA has released never-before-seen from November and December, offering 100,000 supernova explosions Japan, the USA, and Russia has found a electrons start to accelerate. images of 2I/Borisov, only the second a better look at the size and other details hot spot in Earth’s radiation belt where To gain more insight about the electrons, known object to have visited our solar of the visitor. Scientists have discovered a spectacular burst of stars in our killer electrons, which can cause serious Professor Miyoshi and his colleagues system from elsewhere. When this image was taken, the early galaxy, a flurry of formation that resulted in 100,000 su- anomalies in satellites, form. The finding, analyzed data generated on March 30, The image shows the comet in front of object was 326 million kilometers from pernova explosions. published in the journal Geophysical 2017, by the Arase satellite and Van Allen a distant spiral galaxy, which can be made Earth. Scientists can now use it and other The discovery was part of a new survey of the Milky Way, Research Letters, could help scientists Probe. On one side of the Earth, the Van out to the side. But the focus of the images observations to learn more about the comet. which found new details about how the stars that make up our more accurately forecast when these killer Allen Probe identified characteristic is the bright blue center of the image, which “Hubble gives us the best measure of galaxy were born. (relativistic) electrons will form. signs of an interaction between ultralow was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope the size of comet Borisov’s nucleus, which And it allowed the researchers to discover evidence of the Professor Yoshizumi Miyoshi of the frequency waves and energetic electrons. as it tracked the comet through space. is the really important part of the comet,” dramatic event that brought the stars that surround us into being. Institute for Space-Earth Environmental On the opposite side, at the same point in The picture shows the comet on its way said David Jewitt, a professor of planetary The finding changes our understanding of the story of the Research at Nagoya University and time, the Arase satellite identified high- through our solar system as it makes its science and astronomy at the University Milky Way. Its stars were not formed in one continuous process, colleagues compared data from two energy electron signatures, but no ultralow way back into the interstellar space where of California Los Angeles, whose team has they say – but instead in a bright flash that lit up the galaxy. satellites situated on opposite sides of frequency waves. it once flew. captured the best and sharpest images of “Our unprecedented survey of a large part of the Galactic center the Earth: the Arase satellite, developed The measurements indicate that the 2I/Borisov was first spotted in August this first interstellar comet. has given us detailed insights into the formation process of stars in this by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration interaction region between electrons and by a Crimean amateur astronomer who “Surprisingly, our Hubble images show region of the Milky Way,” says Rainer Schödel from the Institute of Agency (JAXA), and NASA’s Van Allen waves is limited, but that the killer electrons would give it its name, and caused a flurry that its nucleus is more than 15 times smaller Astrophysics of Andalusia in Granada, Spain, who led the observations. Probes. Both satellites gather data from then continue to travel on an eastward path of excitement across the world. Scientists than earlier investigations suggested it “Contrary to what had been accepted up to now, we found that the Van Allen radiation belts, zones of around the Earth’s magnetosphere. quickly determined that it was the second might be. The radius is smaller than half the formation of stars has not been continuous,” adds Francisco energetic particles originating largely “An important topic in space weather interstellar object known to have visited our a kilometer. This is important because Nogueras-Lara, who led two new studies of the Milky Way central from solar wind. Energetic particles science is understanding the dynamics of solar system, after the famous ‘Oumuamua, knowing the size helps us to determine region while at the same institute in Granada. in the belts are trapped by Earth’s killer electrons in the Van Allen radiation and the first comet. the total number, and mass, of such objects In the study, researchers found that roughly 80 per cent of magnetic field. belt,” says Miyoshi. “The results of this study Since then, scientists have been taking in the Solar System, and in the Milky Way. the stars in our Milky Way were formed during its earliest years, Scientists have known that electrons in will improve the modelling and lead to more images of the comet as it moves nearer to Borisov is the first known interstellar comet, between about eight and 13.5 billion years ago. After that came Van Allen radiation belts that interact with accurate forecasting of killer electrons in the Earth and can be seen in better detail. and we would like to know how many others about six billions years during which very few stars were born. ultralow frequency plasma waves accelerate Van Allen radiation belts.” The first observations from Hubble came there are.” But that quiet period was brought to a dramatic close with a to reach the speed of light. However, it has (Source: eurekalert.org) in October, and the new images come (Source: The Independent) crescendo of star formation, roughly a billion years ago, when stars with a mass of up to a few tens of million Suns formed in its center over the course of just 100 million years. Dinosaurs faced global warming, elevated mercury levels, fossil shells show That area is now relatively quiet, birthing stars at a rate of one or two Scientists have been trying to figure out what killed off the on the dinosaurs, too. climatic and environmental impacts of Deccan Traps volcanism of our own Suns each year. But the new observations from the European dinosaurs for decades. Most agree the asteroid or comet Researchers performed a global survey of ancient marine by analyzing a single material,” lead study author Kyle Meyer, Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) allowed to look that struck the Yucatan Peninsula some 66 million years mollusk shells, revealing the chemical signatures of mercury researcher at the University of Michigan, said in a news release. at it and peer into its path, and how it would have looked in its past. ago, the Chicxulub meteorite, played a significant role in contamination and ocean warming. The signatures match “It was incredibly surprising to see that the exact same samples “The conditions in the studied region during this burst of snuffing them out, but the significance of the Deccan Traps the timing of the Deccan Traps eruptions. where marine temperatures showed an abrupt warming signal activity must have resembled those in ‘starburst’ galaxies, which eruptions has puzzled scientists. Scientists compared the ancient shells with freshwater clam also exhibited the highest mercury concentrations, and that form stars at rates of more than 100 solar masses per year,” said Now, new research -- published Monday in the journal shells collected near a mercury contamination site in Virginia’s these concentrations were of similar magnitude to a site of Nogueras-Lara, who is now based at the Max Planck Institute for Nature Communications -- suggests the volcanic activity Shenandoah Valley. The chemical signatures matched. significant modern industrial mercury contamination.” Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany, in a statement. had a significant impact on Earth’s climate, and perhaps, “For the first time, we can provide insights into the distinct (Source: UPI) (Source: The Independent) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM DECEMBER 18, 2019

Iran closes southwestern Tehran, border to Iraqi travelers

TOURISM TEHRAN — Iran has closed its southwestern deskChazzabeh border crossing with Iraq to inbound Rome seeking travelers due to insecurity and unrest in the neighboring country. “The ban on the entry of Iraqi citizens is enforced by two coun- tries’ border crossings due to the continued insecurity in Iraq,” IRNA quoted Ahmad Sobhani, director of the border terminal, enhanced as saying on Sunday. cultural heritage co-op, Italian envoy says TOURISM TEHRAN — Italian is very rich in terms of cultural sites and deskambassador to Iran archeological sites… so there is a lot for The official added that Iran has prohibited Iranian passengers Giuseppe Perrone on Monday said that people to discover,” adding “Iran is a and pilgrims from visiting Iraqi cities, particularly the holy cities the two countries are in talks to deepen country that has a great and [un-]tapped of Karbala and Najaf, since two weeks ago for security reasons. bilateral cooperation, particularly in the potential and when it comes to tourism, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs late in October called on field of cultural heritage. cultural heritage, it has a lot to offer.” Rome’s ambassador to Tehran Giuseppe Perrone speaks in an undated photo Iranians to postpone traveling to the neighboring country until The envoy noted that “the project He further said, “The project will have further notice. aims to make sure that Iran develops a follow-up mission by the Iranian side IRNA in an interview released in October. ical, religious and cultural commonalities In a travel advisory issued on October 29, the Ministry of its capabilities to attract more foreign to Italy to share the details and engage Architecture in Iran has a long history between the two nations has helped Iran Foreign Affairs urged Iranian travelers and pilgrims to put off tourists and better organize its tourism in cooperation. The project relates to that is spectacular for Italian tourists. and Italy better understanding each other traveling to Iraq in the wake of escalation of anti-government industries.” the promotion of sites through technol- Pocket-friendly prices in Iran can be an- today, the ambassador added. protests in the country. He made the remarks in an interview ogies in a cooperative approach, new other reason for traveling to the country, In November, Tehran and Rome In July, Iran’s economic charge d’affaires in Najaf, Aref Abbasi, with IRNA on Tuesday on the sidelines of techniques, etc.” the official stated. marked 60 years of collaboration in the announced that the number of Iraqi nationals visiting Iran is a ceremony to launch a joint project for “Italian tourists are fond of Iran be- For more than 20 centuries Iran and fields of cultural heritage and archaeology gaining momentum this year as the Islamic Republic endeavors developing cultural heritage and tourism cause it has a natural diversity that is Italy have been the embodiment of Eastern in a conference, which was held at the to boost its tourism revenues in the face of U.S. sanctions. between the two countries. appealing to them. Italians are also fond and Western civilizations and such a long National Museum of Iran in downtown Some two million Iraqi nationals visited Iran during the first He described Iran “as a country that of Iran’s unique antiquities,” Perrone told history of relationships and many histor- Tehran. seven months of the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20), constituting Iran’s largest source of inbound passengers. In return, hundreds of thousands of Iranian pilgrims head for the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala each year. Omani airliner announces more flights to Iran TOURISM TEHRAN — Oman airline has been operating flights to the deskbudget carrier SalamAir popular city known for its medical tourism, Over 50 firms seek to invest will add more flights to Iranian cities of Teh- pleasant weather and amazing historical ran and Shiraz in the near future thanks to and tourist attractions since February 2018, in IKAC’s free trade zone high demands from customers. the report said. The airliner declared the expansion The carrier connected Muscat with Iran’s TOURISM TEHRAN — Over 50 Iranian companies have of its non-stop Muscat to Shiraz service capital city Tehran on June 9, 2019. The air- desk put in requests to invest in [the newly estab- from the current three to seven flights liner currently operates three Airbus A320 lished] free trade zone of the Imam Khomeini Airport City, IKAC per week yet it is set to add two more aircraft and five Airbus A320Neo aircraft managing director Ali Rostami said. flights to the existing four flights on the making it the first Omani carrier to utilize Muscat-Tehran route, Trade Arabia re- the highly-rated single aisle aircraft. ported on Monday. In October, Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tour- Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of Sala- ism and Handicrafts Minister Ali Asghar mAir, said: “The response from travelers in Mounesan met with his Omani counterpart this sector has been phenomenal since we Ahmed bin Nasser al-Mahrizi in Muscat to announced the route. Shiraz and Tehran promote bilateral ties particularly in the arena continue to be a key market for SalamAir of health and medical tourism. and we are delighted to offer more flights to look forward to offering affordable travel ties between Oman and Iran.” The Islamic Republic has set its goals to meet the growing demand. The new flight to our guests.” SalamAir, which was the first operator exceed its yearly medical travelers to around will provide travelers an additional option “SalamAir is also keen on contributing to Shiraz from Oman, has a seat factor of 2 million in [calendar year] 1404 (March to travel to these two popular cities. We to deepening both commerce and tourism above 80 percent to the destination. The 2025-March 2026). Due to its closeness to the capital Tehran and access to sur- rounding areas, there are many investment opportunities in IKAC for domestic and foreign companies, he added. He made the remarks in the opening ceremony of the 4th International Exhibition of Transportation, Logistics and Related Iranian airline to start Ahvaz-Sohar route Industries at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla on Sunday. TOURISM TEHRAN — Iran’s Qeshm Air has an- Commenting on the new route, provincial tourism chief The ceremony was also attended by Transport and Urban desknounced it will launch a flight service be- Seyyed Hekmatollah Mousavi noted that it could help expand Development Minister Mohammad Eslami, tens of relevant of- tween Ahvaz, capital of Khuzestan province, and Oman’s tourism with the Sultanate, the report said. ficials, business people and traders as well. port city of Sohar, in January 2020. Khuzestan province is home to three UNESCO World The weekly service is scheduled to take its maiden flight Heritage sites of Susa, Tchogha Zanbil and Shushtar Historical on Bahman 1 (January 21, 2020) and it will be operated on Hydraulic System yet it is a region of raw beauty where its ROUND THE GLOBE Tuesdays, director of Khuzestan airports said on Sunday. visitors could spend weeks exploring. The province is also Ahvaz airport currently operates flights to Dubai and a cradle for handicrafts and arts whose crafters inherited Heard and McDonald Kuwait, Mohammadreza Rezaei added. from their preceding generations. Islands Heard and McDonald Islands are remote sub-Antarctic vol- Ancient skeleton with ‘extremely rare form of dwarfism’ dating back canic islands located in the southern Indian Ocean about half-way between Australia and South Africa, and just over 1,600 kilometers from Antarctica. 5,000 years unearthed in China The remains are of a human who would able to diagnose the young adult with “The ancient historical texts show that stature could have been due to an un- have suffered from a very uncommon skeletal dysplasia. they may, in fact, have been revered in deractive thyroid or pituitary gland in form of dwarfism around 5,000 years ago This medical term covers a range of some situations.” their early life. The skeleton was unearthed at a burial conditions that affect bone development The skeleton’s teeth enabled the ar- This would have affected the ancient site near the Yellow River in east-central but most people know it as dwarfism. chaeologists to determine that it was the human’s hormone levels and stunted bone China. The condition is rare in modern humans remains of a young adult. growth, organ function and potentially It was found alongside the remains but shows up even less in the archaeo- They also discovered that the skeleton cognitive development. of other people who lived between 3300 logical record. had short limbs and a small head and trunk. The archaeologists aren’t sure how and 2900 BC. In fact, less than 40 ancient cases have In more common forms of dwarfism the individual would have been treated All of the skeletons were found with been discovered. the limbs grow disproportionately smaller when they were alive. their hands on top of their bodies apart Co-author of the research Sian Hal- than the head and torso. It’s likely they needed the support of from the skeleton with dwarfism. crow, an archaeologist at the University This led the authors to diagnose the others to survive but the difference in the Instead, the hands were tucked behind of Otago in New Zealand, told Forbes: “I Neolithic skeleton with a condition called way the remains were laid out alongside its back. think it is important for us to recognize “proportionate dwarfism”. other skeletons indicate there’s a chance The property covers a total area of 658,903 hectares Archaeologists first noticed that the that disability and difference can be found Proportionate dwarfism is rare in both they were treated like an outsider. of which about 37,000 hectares is terrestrial, and the re- remains appeared shorter and weaker in the past, but these did not necessarily the archaeological record and amongst This research has been published in the mainder marine. than the rest. have negative connotations socially or living humans. International Journal of Paleopathology. The islands are a unique wilderness, containing outstanding After further investigation they were culturally. Experts think the skeleton’s short (Source: The Sun) examples of biological and physical processes continuing in an environment essentially undisturbed by humans. Heard Island is dominated by Big Ben (an active volcano rising to a height of 2,745 meters), and is largely covered by 609-year-old mosque is transported 2½ miles from ancient Turkish snow and glaciers. McDonald Island is much smaller, covering only 100 hec- tares at the time of inscription, and is surrounded by several city which is due to be flooded when a new dam is built smaller rocks and islands. The only active sub-Antarctic volcanos are found on these A 609-year-old mosque is being transported two-and- the new dam. islands, with the volcano on McDonald Island erupting after a-half miles away from an ancient Turkish city that is Six structures have already been relocated - Artuklu inscription and doubling the size of the island. due to be flooded. Hamam (bathhouse), Sultan Süleyman Koç Mosque, The island group’s physical processes provide valuable The Er-Rizk Mosque is being moved from Hasankeyf, Imam Abdullah Zawiyah, Zeynel Abidin Mausoleum and indicators of the role of crustal plates in the formation of which is going to be flooded because of construction Eyyubi Mosque were among the previously relocated ocean basins and continents, of dynamic glacial changes in of the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf Culture Park. structures along with the middle entrance of a castle the coastal and submarine environment, and of atmospheric The building, which weighs a whopping 1,700 tons, The mosque, which is the largest in Hasankeyf, was and oceanic warming. was transported on a Self-Propelled Modular Trans- taken apart piece by piece and reassembled on the The large populations of marine birds and mammals, porter along the Tigris River. platform under supervision from the State Hydraulic combined with a virtual absence of introduced species, pro- The mosque’s minaret, which was built in 1409 under Works and the General Directorate of Cultural Assets vide a unique arena for the maintenance of biological and the order of Ayyubids’ ruler Ebu’l Mefahir Suleyman, and Museums, according to the Daily Sabah. evolutionary processes. was moved separately. The Er-Rizk Mosque is being moved from Hasankeyf, which It will be reconstructed upon its arrival in the cultural (Source: UNESCO) All of the historic sites in Hasankeyf have been grad- is going to be flooded because of construction of the Ilisu park. Its journey was estimated at seven hours. ually transported to prepare for the construction of dam, to the new Hasankeyf Culture Park (Source: Daily Mail) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2019 INTERNATIONAL 11

Why JMI attack makes me Syrians will resist By Damir Nazarov

WEST SIBERIA/ TYUMEN — The American occupation in Syria raises the question: What do the Yankees expect angry and sad? from Syria? In the words of local imperialist puppets represented by the Military council Deir Zor and part- By Imran Raza inside the mosque. Images showed police firing from time field commanders of the SDF: “Americans are called the gates inside the campus while sudents were paraded upon to provide assistance to the Kurdish insurgents in the INDIA — Unstoppable tears, unfathomable grief, with their hands up. For a moment, they looked like fight against Assad and the Iranians”. In fact, on the one acute insomnia, and utter restlessness. That’s how I criminals, not students. hand - the American occupiers are a symbol of cooperation would describe my condition since past few days. On Students were told to evacuate the university as soon between Zionism and the Saudis, and on the other hand- Sunday, I checked my Whatsapp only to be taken aback as possible. My dear friend Asad was hit by a stick, my with the Pro-American Kurds. by some horrifying stories posted by some of my former close friend Sumayya’s sister was badly injured, my classmates at Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) University New junior Faiz was missing and couldn’t be contacted. A Delhi. The visuals were extremely disturbing with gory pall of gloom descended on me. I lost my appetite and details that literally shook me. My thoughts quickly my calm. turned to my alma mater, and all my friends there. I One of the videos circulated online had a familiar face knew the situation was far from normal. Our beautiful in it. It was one the guards of the university who had university was under seige. served in Indian army also, showing his arms bruised The first person I could think of was my sister, who and leg bleeding. I had never spoken to him but I still studies at JMI. I dialed her number and found that had his smiling face etched in my mind. she was not in campus. I heaved a sigh of relief. But I Every visual of a boy being hit felt as if I was being was worried for my friends who were trapped inside hit, every scream of a crying girl seemed as if my sister the campus with the marauding Delhi Police sleuths was crying. If this wasn’t enough, another video showed brazenly attacking the university. my previous alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University I started messaging everyone I could think of to make on boil. The situation there was even worse. Police had sense of the madness. Friends told me that police had set fire to hostel rooms, assaulted students. Internet barged inside the university campus, assaulting students was shut down, enforcing communication blockade. and teachers. They did not even spare female students I was at Jamia just a year and a half ago. I spent This tandem is used by the SDF for anti-Iranian policy. and staff. University properties were vandalized and five eventful years of my life there that shaped me After the Iranians appeared in the North-East of Syria teargas canisters were fired in the air to terrify students. into what I am today. It is extremely painful to see my in the liberated areas, the States changed the decision to As I could see in videos, there was blood everywhere, alma mater go through this. But at the same time I am “complete withdrawal of troops”, thereby intending to “instill from classrooms to library and streets. All hell had broken immensely proud of students there for their spirited confidence” in their local puppets. The “Support” of the SDF loose and our beautiful university campus had been resistance against this communal project. We need to project against the Islamic Republic is not the sole cause turned into a garrison. I just couldn’t believe what my reclaim the idea of India from the Hindutva brigade, of the American occupation. eyes were seeing. It was surreal. For us, the students of boy was seen getting mercilessly thrashed by the police, the idea in which all Indians co-exist peacefully. Washington is using several levers to fight Tehran Jamia, to be unsafe inside our campus was unimaginable. before a few brave girls came to his rescue by confronting Today my soul is moving around the campus of Jamia, and its allies. Turkey, a longtime NATO ally, is helping Now it was a bitter reality unfolding before our eyes. the policemen. and my body, with my head down, fists clenched out him in this direction. An example of such cooperation in Girls, stuck at the hostel, had shared a blackout video Another video showed blood smeared carpets in the of frustation, is bleeding. I assure myself this brutality Syria is NATO’s General support for terrorists. Groups of with “Please help” inscribed in the foreground, pleading university mosque. Images of me praying there last year will definitely end when our awaited savior will come. panturkists, jihadists and “democratic oppositionists” are for help and assistance. They had switched off lights for flashed back in my mind, tearing my heart into pieces. (Author is a student at Ahlulbayt International glad of the American presence in Syria, which do not hide fear of being noticed by police. In another viral video, a Police had resorted to teargas shelling and lathi-charge University, Tehran) their aspirations for a direct Alliance with NATO against Assad, Iran and even Russia. The partial withdrawal of American fighters from Syria is dictated by Washington’s plans to grant unlimited powers to Turkey in its plans to capture and assimilate all of Northern Syria, with the subsequent advance deep into Will Asia pioneer the “de-dollarization” process? the Arab Republic. The great Satan in the best tradition of American politics uses his puppets to implement tactical By Zhang Yansheng becoming increasingly evident. Meanwhile, the low level of mutual trust between a plans. Washington, as previously London, never work with MODERN DIPLOMACY — Den- number of leading Asian countries and one side in any conflict, but beware of a situation in which they mark-based Saxo Bank has released a China may become a hurdle on the way can remain without an alternative in case of an emergency new batch of “outrageous” predictions of creating a common reserve currency. or become a “hostage” of relations with a sole ally (in such for 2020 that it believes could potentially Finally, the past 3-4 years have seen a situations, they say that “the tail wagging the dog”). Under destabilize the entire international system slowdown in China’s economic growth, the current circumstances, it should be added once again existing today. The bank’s experts predict, which, in turn, could drive down commodity that Ankara, like the SDF, are two sides of the same coin. among other things, that in the coming prices worldwide. As a result, raw materials The two lugs of the American spear in the body of Syria. year, the Asian Infrastructure Investment exporters, including Russia and Saudi Ara- Local resistance to the imperialists from allies and Bank (AIIB) may launch “a new reserve bia, whose budget deficit this year exceeds supporters of the Islamic revolutionary guard Corps in asset, called the Asian Drawing Right, or four percent of GDP, will find themselves Syria periodically report their presence - in the form of ADR, with 1 ADR equivalent to 2 US dol- on the losing end. Meanwhile, China and guerrilla operations. The purpose of these operations is lars, making the ADR the world’s largest Saudi Arabia account for a significant part the desire to convey to Washington that the occupiers are currency unit.” of the US public debt. Faced with mount- walking under the gun and if they do not get out, at any time Blockchain technology will give the ing economic woes, Beijing and Riyadh the local forces associated with the Axis of Resistance can ADR additional reliability and ensure might be forced, together or separately, organize armed resistance. maximum transparency of payments ef- to start selling US government bonds, Tehran has local allies in the North and East of Syria: the fectively making it a conventional unit “which will inevitably send their value into military-political party Liwa al-Baqir, various local Arab in a basket of leading world currencies settlements, receive and issue loans, and its Iranian oil imports. a tailspin,” with a knock-on effect in the and Kurdish tribes, local guerrillas. In the event of any and gold, with the Chinese yuan heavily finance their existing obligations. And all Is all this enough to predicate the emer- financial markets and the bankruptcy of a confrontation, representatives of the “Great Satan” and prominent in the mix and the US dollar this without any immediate threat of the gence of an alternative payment system number of leading financial institutions. his loyalists will suffer enormous damage from the Syrian weighted at below 20 percent. use of military force. One possible way of though? The US dollar still accounts for a Such a course of events may be fraught resistance. According to the Danish bank, this step avoiding this scenario would be to create significant share of investment and glob- with a new financial meltdown. is clearly aimed at de-dollarizing regional a regional reserve currency not directly al trade, including in oil, natural gas and An “end of the dollar’s dominance” for trade. Local economies will multilateral- dependent on either the US dollar or the metals. There are at least three factors any other reasons, including a “sudden” Martyr Qasim Umar Sokoto ly agree to begin conducting all trade in Chinese yuan. still preventing the yuan from becoming emergence of a very strong alternative re- By Abdullahi Junaidu the region in ADRs only, with major oil Another major factor in the evolution a world currency: the high cost of “finan- serve currency, would “result, first and exporters Russia and the OPEC nations of the financial architecture of Asia is that cial transactions associated with the re- foremost, in a large-scale economic crisis NIGERIA/ KATSINA — On February 2018, Martyr Qasim happy to sign up on their growing reliance China, now the world’s second biggest ceipt and distribution of information”; in the People’s Republic,” “a collapse of oil Umar Sokoto was mercilessly shot with poisoned bullets by on the Asian market. economy, wants to be able to “better de- “China’s overdependence on Hong Kong prices” and a quick slump in “economic ac- Nigerian security agent in Abuja during #FreeZakzaky peaceful The ADR will quickly take a sizable chunk fend its economic interests and influence as a regional offshore financial center,” tivity around the globe.”. Therefore, China, protest, demanding the release of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife of global trade away from the US dollar, decision-making processes pertaining to and the People’s Republic’s inability “to as a founding member of the AIIB, which from illegal detention. Martyr Qasim Umar has later succumbed leaving the United States ever shorter of global economic development.” To this exert political influence on other world Saxo Bank calls the potential issuer of ADR, to martyrdom after he suffered for 3 weeks. the inflows it needs to fund its double-digit end, Beijing “needs to participate in inter- economic centers, mainly the US and the is hardly interested in a depreciation of deficits. The US dollar will lose 20 percent national institutions where its voice will EU.” There are still four factors testifying the US dollar. against the ADR within months and 30 carry decisive weight.” The creation of AIIB to the yuan’s increasing value as a region- One should also bear in mind the fact percent against gold. in 2014, where half of the bank’s capital al currency: the projected “growth of the that all leading EU countries, including By the close of the 1990s, Southeast Asian currently belongs to Beijing, was just one Asian countries’ incomes” leading to “an Britain, Germany, Italy and France, happen countries had started coming forward as the step in this direction. Many experts believe increase in demand for Chinese goods”; to be members of the AIIB. Therefore it main competitors for US companies with that China wields an unofficial veto right “the implementation of multilateral pro- can be assumed that Europeans, who are local political and economic elites getting in the Bank’s key decisions. However, as jects as part of the “One Belt, One Road” intent on strengthening the euro’s global increasingly wary of the imbalances of the noted by Professor A. Kuznetsov, official initiative, resulting in increased yuan usage standing, may not be all too happy about “unipolar model of globalization” where Beijing keeps insisting that “newly created in the countries of Central and Southeast the prospect of a new reserve currency capital continues to accumulate mainly in institutions present competition, not an Asia”; “The development of the Asian bond coming along that could challenge not countries issuing world reserve currencies. alternative,” to the IMF and the World Bank. market leading to the standardization of only the dollar, but the single European It looks like the world’s leading powers now Overall, the Asian reserve currency’s international debt in RMB”; “increased currency as well. have in mind the scenario of a possible col- prospects depend on how regional and demand for RMB by commercial banks Although the emerging economies’ share lapse of the modern world order. The policy global financial and economic trends are and enterprises as part of the Multilater- in global savings is currently close to 50 of sanctions and financial and economic perceived by the major global economies. al Initiative to conduct swap operations percent, “this money keeps flowing, via pressure, which has recently been pursued Ever since the emergence of the global between central banks.” international reservation channels, into the by Washington raises the prospects of a money concept, there has been only one Finally, the process of the yuan’s “in- Anglo-Saxon center of the global financial financial system or systems being created leading world currency in use: first the ternationalization” is slowed down by the system, with limited possibilities for its that would be independent of the United Dutch guilder, then the British pound and Chinese authorities’ need to maintain productive placement.” Martyr Qasim Umar Sokoto was the representative of Is- States. In Asia and Eurasia, new political later the US dollar. Right now, expert opin- short-term growth, while simultaneous- The current model of globalization is lamic movement under the leadership of Sheikh Zakzaky in alliances are emerging, including in the ions relevant to the dynamics of the US ly countering “adverse external shocks.” losing momentum too. This can somewhat Sokoto state. form of region-wide financial institutions. dollar’s share in the global currency vary Well, at the end of the day the global reduce frustration with development im- He was so brave and courage who always led #FreeZakzaky The processes currently unfolding in significantly. According to a European Cen- financial system may “naturally” break up balances, but per se it will hardly be able to protest in Abuja capital of Nigeria and other major cities in the financial and economic life of Asia and tral Bank report released in June 2019, into several relatively independent currency correct the overall structural imbalances Nigeria like Kano and Kaduna among others. elsewhere in the world, are in large part “the US dollar remains the world reserve zones: the dollar, the euro and the yuan (or of the global economy. Economists warn Tyrant President Buhari considered Martyr Qasim Umar associated with the trade war that has been currency, but its predominance has been yen). In future, the world may likewise rest about the dangers of creating a system of as a threat to him and his gang as they continue to hold Sheikh going on between the United States and significantly shaken.” This trend towards on a similar balance of power. However, payments alternative to the dollar, which Zakzaky and his wife in illegal detention, America and Saudi China for the past few years, taking in ever a diversification of reserves and a year-on- these currency zones will inevitably find could bring about exchange rate fluctuations Arabia ordered their proxy server in Nigeria, President Buhari new trade and economic sectors and now year contraction of the US dollar’s share in themselves competing among themselves, and a chaotic “capital spillovers” from one to definitely eliminate Martyr Qasim Umar from existence. threatening to spill over into the sphere of the world central banks’ reserves is likewise which will be a test of strength for all cur- reserve currency to another and back. One Former military dictator, tyrant President Buhari security finance as well. Still, the scope of this rivalry acknowledged by a review of global trends rency macro-regions. At the same time, thing is clear: the harder Washington tries to have made so many attempts to assassinate him on his way has not yet reached a Cold War level. In released by the International Monetary the countries of the Asia-Pacific region destroy the established “rules of the game,” to Abuja and other trips he had, but ended up woefully failed. fact, Saxo Bank predicts an escalation of Fund. The greenback is gradually being will face a hard choice. As recently as the the louder the calls for the creation of global Chief of savage Wahhabi barbarians in Nigeria, bloodthirsty the US-China trade war to a level typical of replaced by the euro, the Japanese yen dawn of this century, uniting around the or regional financial systems alternative to Tukur Buratai met with Govt stakeholders in Sokoto state weeks the Great Depression era. If this is what is and the Chinese yuan. There are more and Japanese yen was seen by most of them the dollar will get. However, the creation of before Qasim’s murder, Buratai went with the assassination going to happen, the US dollar, this symbol more payment mechanisms independent as the most logical option. Now that the such systems will require large-scale and plan of Martyr Qasim Umar, but Sokoto state Govt didn’t want of US dominance in the global financial of the United States popping up, with The People’s Republic of China has turned into lengthy political and organizational efforts, to be held responsible for the murder, so they planned to shot system, may effectively be weaponized to Economist writing about China working a regional economic powerhouse and the while the price tag will be prohibitively him not in Sokoto state but in Abuja capital of Nigeria. undermine the development potential of hard to create its own international payment world’s second economy, the need for closer high too. Therefore, it is highly unlikely The blood of Martyr Qasim Umar Sokoto will never go in any outside rivals, China included, who system based on the yuan. There has also interaction between the economies of the that anyone will venture to predict exactly vain, we must one day take the revenge of his murder and that would no longer be able to make financial been talk about China paying in yuan for Asia-Pacific region and the Chinese yuan is when this is going to happen. of other followers of Sheikh Zakzaky by God grace. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY DECEMBER 18, 2019

Terrorism makes peace Tehran hosting Asian-Pacific building impossible: Jani Hezarroudi Astronomy Olympiad 2019 ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The 15th that assesses participants’ observation skills GORGAN — Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism deskAsian-Pacific Astronomy overnight, he explained. (ADVT) Public Relations – Expert meeting “World without Ter- Olympiads (APAO 2019) kicked off in He went on to say that after Michael G. rorism” was held in Andisheh conference hall at Islamic Azad Tehran on Sunday, ISNA news agency Gavrilov, Founding Chairman of the IAO University of Gorgan on 16 December 2019. reported. paid a visit to Iran, it was decided to hold The meeting was organized by ADVT office in Golestan Prov- The Asian-Pacific Astronomy Olympiad is the 2019 APAO in Tehran. ince in cooperation with Islamic Azad University, Foundation of a regional annual astronomy event for high A team of national medalists of IAO, along Martyrs and Veterans Affairs of the province and was attended school students from Asian countries. It pro- with Gavrilov, are responsible to set the ques- by security and political deputy of the Provincial Government, vides a program for teams of students that did tions, with students from China, Russia and executive director of women affairs of Provincial Government, not qualify for the International Astronomy Iran taking apart, he stated, noting, “On the director of Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs of the Olympiad (IAO) and the APAO follows the sidelines of the event, we also plan to introduce province, figures of the province, the crippled and families of IAO on the calendar. The APAO was founded Tehran’s cultural and tourist attractions to the victims of the province, and students on the occasion of the on April 25, 2005. participants, so they visit various sights in International Day of World without Violence. Teams of Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Tehran during their stay.” Farideh Jani Hezarroudi, officer of ADVT office at Golestan Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ko- “I believe that the competitive aspect of said “Terror and terrorism are the most challenging issues of rea, Nepal, Pakistan, Asian part of Russia, the Olympiads is not the main part of it, what the world today and serious threats to global peace and security. Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam took matters most is the interaction and empathy This vicious phenomenon, which is recruited by the dominant part in the APAOs. between students of different nationalities,” powers, endangers peace and security of human society with The APAO consists of three tests in- he highlighted. a continuous violence and made peace building impossible.” cluding, theory, data analysis and obser- “We need to be more active in interna- She added that “One of the most important goals of terrorist vation, the Olympiad’s secretary Seyed tional conferences and events to maintain attacks is to create insecurity and horror in human society. The Amir Mousavi said. our place as a leading country in the field of presence of victims of terrorism and their families in raising the In the theory test, participants are chal- education,” he concluded. awareness of the public opinion at national and international lenged by solving a number of numerical tests, The event will close on December 23. level plays an important role in revealing the real nature of the in the data analysis test, students face a set The last edition of APAO was held in terrorist groups which are pursuing their inhumane acts by abus- of real data and practice real data analysis, Lijiang, China on November 24-December ing human rights concepts.” while the observation test is a practical test 2, 2018. Hojjat al-Eslam Seyed Ali Taheri, the president of Islamic Azad University of Gorgan stated “We live in a world where pol- iticians of hegemonic states strive to distort the realities of the world for their own interests.” He continued “Although Islam is Telecom Innovation 2019 opens in Tehran considered as a peaceful religion, many efforts have been made SOCIETY TEHRAN — The 20th In- Over the three-day event, the market’s to accuse this religion of terrorism, while Muslims, especially the deskternational Exhibition of most dynamic companies across the telecoms Iranian people, have suffered the most in the past few decades.” Telecommunications, Information Technol- ecosystem attend the event. The president of Islamic Azad University of Gorgan said ogy, also known as Telecom Innovation 2019, The exhibition covers mobile communi- “Hegemonic powers seeks to increase the cost for independent opened on Tuesday at the Tehran Permanent cations, communication and internet ser- countries and put the stigma of terrorism on Islamic nations International Fairground. vices, navigation, networks, information by backing terrorist groups such as ISIS. But this shame is still The exhibition showcases a broad picture technology, peripherals and components, evident in their inhumane policies. Today, there is no one in the of the whole telecom market in Iran, with storage systems and equipment, services, country who is unaware of the crimes of the Mujahedin-e Khalq stands from equipment and infrastructure card technologies, office automation - equip- Organization (hypocrites). The young generation must know how vendors, satellite operators, wholesale car- ment, accessories and system software. we made effort for the Islamic Revolution until now. riers, VAS solutions suppliers, OSS/BSS An audience of about 40,000 trade visitors Son of the martyr of terrorism said “We must narrate these vendors and more. and more than 300 exhibitors are expected crimes of the hypocrites for the society and commemorate the It is organized by the Information and the Communications Regulatory Authori- Company (TIC) and the Telecommunications to join Iran telecom innovations 2019. families of the martyrs and the victims of terrorism. The young Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry, ty, the Telecommunications Infrastructure Company of Iran (TCI). The exhibition runs until December 20. generation of today are the future leaders of the country, and such scientific meetings on the martyrs of terrorism should continue for raising the awareness of the society.” In another part of the meeting, Ms. Ehsaneh Ahmadi Golsefidi, FAO, Iran ink agreement to support sustainable development of marine cage culture university lecturer of psychology argued that “Terrorism and its motivation are very important and according to the hierarchy we The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Na- duction in Iran constitutes roughly 40 percent of total can divide the roots of terrorism into the physiological needs, the tions (FAO) and the Iran Fisheries Organization (IFO) fish production and 10 percent of agricultural exports need for safety, the need for belonging, the need for respect, and announced a new project that will strengthen national of the Country, which accounts for about 1 percent of the need for self-healing, respectively. What we are looking at is capacity for sustainable management and development of overall national GDP. the psychological consequence of terrorism, that is, fear, and this marine cage culture – the farming of fish inside net-cages However, due to climate change and sharp decline in fear today is so pervasive that it cannot be defined geographically. in the marine environment. precipitation during recent years and shortage of avail- The purpose of terror, as the word itself implies, is to terrorize Funded by FAO, this two-year Technical Cooperation able freshwater; marine cage culture is a key priority for and spread fear among the people. For this goal, the terrorists Programme (TCP) project will improve Iran’s marine cage the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to supply target the civilians, and the selection of these targets will cause culture capacities and support the Government’s efforts animal proteins, healthy food and alternative livelihood. anxiety among the people.” to achieve its long-term goal of 900,000 tonnes of fish Yet, the country is facing some challenges in cage The university lecturer pointed out “The message of terrorism is clear product annually from marine cage culture. culture development, such as insufficient know-how, and the terrorist wants to say that anyone can be targeted anywhere “Through allocating USD 292,000 to this project, inadequate up-to-date and appropriate technologies and anytime, and this is what increases the anxiety of terrorist acts. FAO assists the Government of the Islamic Republic of and equipment; general shortage of relevant expertise Dr Ahmadi concluded “Causes such as the role of personality Iran to sustainably increase the production from marine within cage culture sector and government institutions; disorder, disruption of thinking, lack of satisfaction of biological cage culture in the country,” said FAO Representative improper marketing plan for cage culture productions, and psychological needs are some of the reasons people tend to to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Gerold Bödeker at and inadequate supply of fingerlings of cultured species. commit terrorist acts.” the signing ceremony. He added that “during the im- Mentioning the low production cost from cage culture plementation phase of the project, farm managers and in supplying animal protein at the signing ceremony, the Gerold Bödeker, FAO Representative to Iran (R), Hossein Ms. Alizadeh, professor of international law at university said Ali Abdolhay, deputy head of Iran Fisheries Organization. “In modern international law, peace can only be achieved when extension practitioners will be trained.” Director of Aquaculture Development Department of international security is emphasized globally and extensively Iran ranks second in the Middle East and 17th in the Iran Fisheries Organization, Mr Hussein Ali Abdolhay part to achieve a resilient economy. at international level for preventing violence and extremism.” world’s total aquaculture production. Aquaculture pro- asserts that this joint project constitutes an integral (Source: FAO) She continued “Regarding the new concept of peace, approaches have also changed. The obligation to maintain peace and to try to prevent violence and extremism based on the modern definition of the international community is not only the responsibility Iranian top researchers, technologists honored of governments, but also of other international actors, such as 1 A number of 400 technological was also inaugurated concurrent with companies will be displayed at Iran metallurgy, agriculture and environ- international organizations, real and legal persons and parties.” achievements will be showcased at the the exhibition, participated by lead- Lab 2019. ment, basic physics, general labora- (Source: ADVT) exhibition with technological-based ing knowledge-based companies and The event focuses on 13 sectors in- tory equipment, laboratory materials, supply and demand approach. domestic producers. cluding oil and petrochemical, elec- medical and biomedical engineering, The 7th laboratory equipment and Over 9,000 laboratory equipment tricity, electronics and software, civil equipment, testing, industrial testing WORDS IN THE NEWS chemicals exhibition (Iran Lab 2019) produced by 350 knowledge-based engineering, mechanics, chemistry and and calibration services. Anti-gravity device could change air travel ENGLISH IN USE

(July 29, 2002) LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION Speaking at the state opening of the Zimbabwean parliament, President Robert Mugabe again attacked Britain and praised his government’s widely criticized policy of seizing white-owned farm آغاز اجرای آزمایشی طرح »بازی و یادگیری« land. This report from Rageh Omaar: ‘Playing to learn’ scheme piloted The idea of anti-gravity is doubted by many scientists. But the involvement of the world’s largest aerospace company lends it in elementary schools در مدارس ابتدایی تهران new credibility. Documents obtained by the magazine, Janes Defence Weekly, and seen by the BBC, show that Boeing is using A plan dubbed “playing to learn” aiming at using educational بــه گــزارش روز شــنبه خبرگــزاری فــارس اجرای آزمایشــی طــرح »بــازی و یادگیری« the research of a Russian scientist, Doctor Evgeny Podkletnov, games toward deeper learning was implemented for first time in بــه منظــور آمــوزش عمیــق مفاهیــم کتــب درســی توســط بــازی بــا حضــور وزیــر in a programme code-named Project Grasp. elementary schools across the capital, with the Education Minister The project is run by the top-secret Phantom Works in Seattle, the part آمــوزش و پــرورش در تعــدادی از مــدارس ابتدایــی شــهر تهــران آغــاز شــد. .of the company which handles Boeing’s most sensitive programmes. in attendance, Fars reported on Saturday قــرار اســت ایــن طــرح در ۱۰۰۰ مدرســه ۱۰ اســتان کشــور اجــرا شــود در فــاز اول Doctor Podkletnov claims to have built a device which can shield Through the first phase of the scheme, 1,000 schools from 10 اجــرای طــرح، اســت انهای خراســان رضــوی، شــهر تهــران، فــارس، همــدان، مازنــدران، ,objects from gravity, making them, in effect, lighter and easier to lift. provinces nationwide will implement the playing to learn scheme Doctor Podkletnov’s work is viewed with suspicion by some, but including Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, Fars, Hamedan, Mazandaran, کردســتان، کرمــان، آذربایجــان غربــی، قزویــن و سیســتان و بلوچســتان قــرار دارنــد. the head of the Phantom Works, George Mullner, told Janes that the science appeared to be valid and plausible. We shouldn’t Kordestan, Kerman, West Azarbaijan, Qazvin, and Sistan-Baluchestan. مل کهــای انتخــاب مــدارس اجــرای پــروژه بــازی و یادگیــری شــامل اعــام آمادگــی however expect anti-gravity aircraft in the near future. The idea According to the report, schools regarding their proper environment داوطلبانــه مــدارس بــا توجــه بــه امــکان ســنجی محیــط و شــرایط مدرســه اســت کــه is still highly experimental and it’s not yet clear whether it can be and conditions volunteered and chose to hold game-based classes engineered into something that works. and assess the results, currently in each province 50 girls’ schools تعــداد 50 مدرســه دخترانــه و50 مدرســه پســرانه انتخــاب شــدند و ایــن مــدارس از Words بیــن مــدارس دولتــی و مــدارس غیردولتــی انتخــاب شــدهاند؛ همچنیــن در ایــن فــاز anti: a prefix used to form words that describe something that and 50 boys’ schools among state-run and private schools have prevents or destroys something else - here, prevention of gravity piloted the scheme; 20 percent of which are private schools. اجــرا، حداکثــر 20 درصــد مــدارس غیردولتــی شــامل اجــرای پــروژه م ی شــوند. gravity: the force that makes things fall when you drop them credibility: if someone or something has credibility, people believe in them or trust them research: work that involves studying something and trying to PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM discover facts about it code-named: a code-name given to something that is secret “hepato-, hepat-” Hang over something/somebody Have a brush with something sensitive: here, secret device: machine Meaning: liver Meaning: if something bad is hanging over you, you Explanation: when you have a brush with something, suspicion: if something is viewed with suspicion it is not trusted For example: There is no specific treatment for are worried or anxious about it such as the law, you encounter or experience it briefly valid: based on sound reasoning - true this disease and complete recovery from any form of For example: It’s not very nice to have huge debts For example: He had a brush with the law for speeding plausible: believable hepatitis may take four months or longer. hanging over your head. a few years ago, but he has had a clean record ever since. (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13

New leaks: Trump’s Palestine deal Malaysia to host major summit of Muslim leaders seeks shared al-Quds, Saudi role 1 But Mahathir’s office swiftly rejected the suggestion, insisting the summit “is not intended to create a new bloc”. 1 excluding the Israeli settlement would be constructed for the Palestinian There have however been signs Riyadh is unhappy about the blocs that would remain part of the occu- state. Until that time, Palestinians would event, with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan cancelling his pied territories. use Israeli ports. attendance after travelling to the kingdom at the weekend, re- Shared Jerusalem al-Quds Palestine’s borders would be open to portedly to assuage his ally’s concerns. Additionally, Jerusalem al-Quds — whose the passage of civilians and goods. While calls have been growing for the summit to address the eastern sector was occupied by Israel dur- A Chinese company would build a high- Uighurs’ plight, analysts believe leaders are unlikely to take a ing the Six-Day War in 1967 and illegally way that rises 30 meters above the ground hard line for fear of damaging vital economic ties with Beijing. annexed — would not be split but would connecting Gaza to the West Bank. They are seen as more likely to condemn the treatment of rather be “shared” between Israel and the The Jordan Valley would remain under Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar -- who fled their mostly Buddhist Palestinian state, with the Arab population Israeli control. Highway 90 would be ex- homeland in droves in 2017 after a bloody military crackdown of the city becoming residents of Palestine. panded to link the Palestinian state with -- and the Palestinians, which would come at a lower cost. The Jerusalem al-Quds municipality Jordan. Following the summit, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani heads would become responsible for the entire Penalties for objection to Japan on Friday in the first trip to the country by an Iranian city, while the Palestinian state would be If Israel rejects the deal, the U.S. will end head of state for two decades, official news agency IRNA reported. responsible for education and would pay economic support for the regime. For 94-year-old Mahathir, the world’s oldest leader and in the Israeli municipality taxes and utilities. If Hamas and the PLO oppose the agree- his second stint as premier, the most important outcome could Jews would not be allowed to purchase ment, Washington will end all financial be boosting Malaysia’s international reputation which suffered Arab homes and vice versa, while no addi- support it provides to Palestinians and under a corruption-mired regime that was ousted last year. tional areas would be annexed to Jerusa- prevent funding provided by other countries. The summit is “a vehicle to return (Mahathir) and Malaysia into lem al-Quds and the city’s holy sites would If the PLO accepts the plan and Hamas a position of prominence in the Islamic world,” said Shahriman preserve their status quo. or the Islamic Jihad dismiss it, then the Lockman, an analyst from Malaysian think-tank the Institute of two groups would bear the responsibility Al-Aqsa custodianship shifts $30bn funding pay for it. Strategic and International Studies. of their decision. to Riyadh The wealthy Persian Gulf Arab states, The amount the Palestinians will have (Source: AFP) Meanwhile, the al-Aqsa Mosque, which the United States and the European Union to pay for protection would be negotiated In any military confrontation between is currently administered by the Waqf — an would economically sponsor the Washing- between the Arab nations and Israel. Israel and Hamas, the U.S. will support arm of the Jordanian Ministry of Sacred ton-crafted deal, providing 70, 20, and 10 Timetable for ‘disarming’ Ha- Israel. That U.S. plan on the Israeli-Palestinian Properties — will be placed under Saudi percent of the funds, respectively. mas, building Palestinian airport Berri, Hariri say new govt conflict — which is widely reported to be Arabia’s control. “An amount of $30 billion will be allo- Upon the signing of the so-called peace biased towards the Tel Aviv regime — has Egypt gives territory to new cated over a period of 5 years for projects plan, Hamas would hand over its weapons ‘urgent’ already been unanimously rejected by all Palestine related to the new Palestinian state,” the to Egypt and its members would receive Palestinian factions. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister and parliament speaker Regarding the Gaza Strip, the draft deal purported draft deal said. monthly salaries from Arab nations. The U.S. unveiled the economic por- agreed Tuesday on the need to speed up the formation of a new stipulates that Egypt would grant land to The contributions by the Persian Gulf Gaza’s sea borders and land crossings tion of its initiative during a conference government as it has become “urgent.” the new Palestinian state to be used for countries would be split proportionate to with Israel and Egypt would be opened to in Bahrain in June despite a Palestinian Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri met in industrial, agricultural and commercial their oil production capacity. international trade. boycott. Ain al-Tineh to discuss the latest developments in the political impasse. purposes as well as the building of an airport. Palestinians pay for protection A year after the agreement is implement- Palestinians stopped recognizing the A statement from Berri’s office, after the meeting, said that both sides However, Palestinians would not be allowed Furthermore, an agreement would be ed, elections would be held in Palestine. U.S. as a mediator in the conflict with the agreed on the need for speeding up the formation of a new government to live in the lands provided by Egypt. signed between Israel and the new Pal- All Palestinian prisoners would be Tel Aviv regime in 2017, after Trump recog- and the “need to approach this in a calm atmosphere.” Moreover, a highway and a pipeline for estinian state, with the Tel Aviv regime gradually released from Israeli jails over nized occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s (Source: Daily Star) treated water would be built between Gaza providing protection to Palestine from a period of three years. “capital” in defiance of international law. and the West Bank. “external aggression,” while Palestinians Within five years, a seaport and an airport (Source: press TV) Costs by inexperienced Fresh protests hit India over Myanmar seizes boat carrying 173 crown prince for Saudi anti-Muslim law Rohingya Muslims: military spokesman Arabia 1 Recent events in Lebanon and Iraq that led to political A fresh round of protests has broken out eastern city of Kolkata in India’s West Myanmar detained 173 Rohingya Mus- to attacks by Rohingya militants, but has and security problems along with efforts by the Saudi-affiliated against an anti-Muslim citizenship law in Bengal State as well as in the southern- lims on a boat off the southern coast, au- acknowledged killings at Inn Din village, media such as Iran International TV and the Saudi-owned Al India, amid evidence of excessive force most state of Kerala, local sources said on thorities said Tuesday, amid signs that where soldiers and Buddhist villagers Arabiya TV to exploit the recent popular protests in Iran are just used by police to suppress public outcry. Tuesday, with several other rallies planned more members of the minority group are murdered 10 Muslim men, as well as in few examples of the Saudi interventionist approach. The Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), in the capital, New Delhi, later in the day. making perilous sea voyages to escape another village, Gu Dar Pyin. Myanmar Riyadh must learn lessons from the consequences of the ag- which was passed by Hindu-nationalist Authorities imposed internet black- persecution. has also denied persecution. gressive policy toward the countries in the region and of enormous Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s govern- outs and used force to shut down rallies The navy seized the vessel carrying Some 600,000 Rohingya remain in economic and security losses. Saudi Arabia should be aware that ment last week, aims to purportedly save and sit-ins across several states to quell the group, including 22 children, off the largely Buddhist Myanmar, confined to pursuing previous policies with tactical changes will also result religious minorities from persecution in the unrest. coast of Tanintharyi Division’s Kawthaung camps and villages in the western Rakh- in unpredictable costs for the country. neighboring Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Police said ten people had been ar- township Sunday, military spokesman ine state where they are unable to travel Afghanistan by offering them an easy path rested for rioting and mob violence on Tun Tun Nyi said. freely or access healthcare and education. to Indian citizenship. Tuesday. “Our navy found them on a suspicious Three Rohingya living in Myanmar’s Critics say Modi has designed the Kolkata was also the scene of mass boat in the sea,” he told Reuters by phone. western Rakhine state told Reuters by How Guterres suppressed discriminatory law explicitly to exclude demonstrations on Monday as thousands “The police will proceed according to the phone they had heard the boat was bound Muslims from the possibility of acquiring of protesters took to the streets in a march law.” for Malaysia. They asked not to be named the Western media warfare refugee status in India and, eventually, led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata More than 730,000 Rohingya fled for fear of retribution. citizenship. Banerjee, a fierce critic of Modi. Myanmar to Bangladesh in 2017 to es- For years, Rohingya on both sides of against Iran India’s 200 million Muslims view the The new round of rallies took place as cape a military-led crackdown that UN the border have boarded boats organized 1 A few days ago, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres measure as the government’s first step petitions calling for a probe into allegations investigators have said was carried out by smugglers in the dry months between affirmed in an official statement that the UN is “unable to independent- toward making them second-class citi- of police brutality at two universities in with “genocidal intent” and included mass November and March, when the sea is ly corroborate” Iran’s role in attacks on the Aramco oil facilities. zens, and protests over the law have since northern India were heard by the Supreme killings and rapes. calm. The dangerous journey to Thailand In fact, statement by Guterres has suppressed the Western been ongoing in the South Asian country. Court on Tuesday. Myanmar has denied widespread atroc- and Malaysia has cost many lives. propaganda campaign against Iran over the past three months, The new protests were staged in the (Source: agencies) ities, framing the violence as a response (Source: Daily Star) which sought to describe the Islamic Republic as a destabilizing factor in regional and international developments. The West was trying to justify the continued killings and aggressions by the Saudi-UAE coalition in Yemen, which are being carried out Pakistani special court sentences Musharraf to death in high treason case through financial and military support by the U.S., the Zionist Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf has losing power in 2008. He returned to Pakistan regime, Britain, France and Germany. been sentenced to death in a high treason case. The in 2013 to take part in a general election, but retired general was tried in absentia after leaving was disqualified and put under house arrest on the country several years ago to undergo medical charges related to his decision to impose a state treatment. of emergency in 2007. The following year, he was China, Russia press UN to ease The special court in Islamabad backed capital allowed to leave the country again to seek medical N. Korea sanctions punishment in a split 2-1 vote. Musharraf, who treatment. held the power in Pakistan for a decade, was ac- The former Pakistani leader says his prosecution China Tuesday urged the UN Security Council to unanimously cused of subverting the Pakistani constitution to is politically motivated and that his only goal was back its joint proposal with Russia to ease sanctions on North keep power. to serve Pakistan as a military commander and Korea, warning that dialogue to resolve nuclear tensions must The court announced its verdict on Tuesday after later as president. Two weeks ago, he was sent not regress. a weeks-long delay as the Pakistani government and to a hospital in Dubai after reportedly suffering The nuclear-armed North has issued increasingly strident declara- Musharraf’s defense team made a last-ditch attempt heart and blood pressure problems. tions in recent weeks, even promising an ominous “Christmas gift” if to prolong the case, which was launched in 2013. He remains a controversial figure in Pakistan. Washington does not come up with some concessions. The decision is subject to appeal. Critics say Musharraf undermined democra- drone operations, which have caused scores of For his part, US President Donald Trump said Monday that he Earlier Musharraf complained from a hospital cy when he staged a bloodless military coup civilian deaths, and have since been banned would be “disappointed” if North Korea had “something in the works,” bed in Dubai, where he’s been living in recent in 1999 and concentrated too much power by Pakistan’s parliament. warning that if it did, “we’ll take care of it.” years, that his trial was unfair. The video has been in his own hands. Public pressure stopped Supporters view him as a defender of Pakistani “We’re watching it very closely,” Trump said at the White House. broadcast by Pakistani media. He urged the court him from entrenching further in 2007, when interests, who stood up to militants, built up Pakistani Negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have been largely to take a statement from him at the hospital and he suspended the constitution for six weeks nuclear deterrence vis-à-vis India, and improved stalled since the collapse of a February summit in Hanoi between Trump confirm the state of his health. to seek re-election. Musharraf admitted he women’s rights. and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Musharraf has been mostly living in exile since opened up the country to the CIA’s anti-terror (Source: RT) The North is under heavy US and United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program, but it has been frustrated at the lack of relief after it declared a moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests. Turkey plans to set up military base in Libya “It is an important and sensitive period for the peninsula, and the Turkey is planning to establish a mili- The sources said that the transfer cooperation as well as delimitation the so-called Libyan National Army urgency of a political solution has further increased,” Chinese foreign tary base in Libya aimed at providing process to Tripoli have already begun, of maritime jurisdiction. (LNA), supports the eastern govern- ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing in greater support for the Tripoli-based with ships transferring drones, tanks, The November military deal was ment. In April, he launched an offensive Beijing. unity Government of National Accord special forces and commando units. introduced in the Turkish parliament to capture the capital Tripoli and oust The international community should “prevent the peninsula from (GNA) in the wake of a military deal Sources also revealed cargo planes on Saturday. the GNA. falling back into tense confrontation, and avoid a serious reversal of signed between the two sides last month. and helicopters have been prepared If the military agreement is approved Despite intense and deadly clashes the situation,” Geng added. Local media reported Monday that and alerted to take off towards the by lawmakers, the GNA can request between the two sides, Haftar has Russia and China introduced a draft joint resolution at the United the military base will be established in GNA-held Misrata Airport. vehicles, equipment and weapons for so far failed to achieve his objective Nations on Monday seeking to lift some of the punitive measures Tripoli, and that Ankara had already A day earlier, media reports suggest- use in army, navy and air operations. and his offensive stalled outside the that have been enforced on Pyongyang over its nuclear activities. started to prepare and provide neces- ed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan It also provisions for new intelligence capital. “We hope that the Security Council will unanimously support the sary equipment to the base in support had held talks with Sarraj in Istanbul, sharing. Libya plunged into chaos in 2011, political settlement of the Peninsula issue” and encourage Washing- of Libya’s internationally-recognized just days after the Turkish leader said Since 2014, Libya has been divid- when a popular uprising and a NATO ton and Pyongyang to “respect each other’s concerns,” Geng said. government led by Fayez al-Sarraj. he was ready to send troops into Libya ed between two rival governments: intervention led to the ouster of long- He said “contact should be restored as soon as possible to break Turkish daily Yeni Shafak quoted upon Tripoli’s request. the House of Representatives based time dictator Muammar Gaddafi and the deadlock and to prevent the dialogue process from derailing or military sources as saying that Ankara During the previous meeting between in the eastern city of Tobruk and his execution by unruly fighters. even regressing.” had asked the armed forces to equip the two men in Istanbul late last month, the GNA. Sarraj’s government has been at- While Beijing is Pyongyang’s most important diplomatic ally and ships and warplanes in preparation for Ankara and Tripoli signed an accord Renegade Libyan general Khalifa tempting to establish order ever since. key economic lifeline, it has backed sanctions against its neighbor in the transfer of Turkish forces to Libya. on expanded security and military Haftar, who is commander-in-chief of (Source: Press TV) the wake of its nuclear activities. (Source: AFP) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS DECEMBER 18, 2019

Man City won’t stand in way Zidane and Valverde to meet in of Arteta joining Arsenal

Manchester City will not stand in Mikel Arteta’s way if he wants to become the new manager of Arsenal, several British media outlets reported Monday. Clasico battle of the survivors Reports added that while Premier League champions City were unhappy at a lack of a formal approach for Arteta, currently an assis- Zinedine Zidane and Ernesto Valverde might to be played, it felt like results might unravel. tant to manager Pep Guardiola, they will stop the Spanish midfielder have been fearing for their jobs if they had “We must have consistency,” said Zidane. joining Arsenal. lost a Clasico back in October but its post- “We have to have more life in our game.” Arteta played for north London side Arsenal and he has also been ponement means that on Wednesday they Madrid did that as Zidane found a more linked with the managerial vacancy at Premier League rivals Everton, can face each other feeling more secure. settled side including the dynamic midfielder another of his former clubs. Stalling in the autumn, Real Madrid and he has long-wanted in Fede Valverde as well But speculation that Arteta could be returning to north London as Barcelona have rolled through the gears in the as an 18-year-old gem in Rodrygo and ar- the successor to sacked Gunners boss Unai Emery intensified when lead-up to Christmas, meaning the winner of guably the world’s most in-form striker in pictures emerged of managing director Vinai Venkatesham outside Wednesday’s crunch meeting at Camp Nou Karim Benzema. his house in the early hours of Monday morning. will move seven points clear of third place. Eden Hazard got fit too and sparkled City won 3-0 at Arsenal on Sunday but reports said no approach More importantly, in what increasingly in spells before injuring his ankle earlier for Arteta was made when club officials met during the game. looks like a two-pronged title chase, the this month, which will rule him out until It is understood two meetings have taken place and City are unhappy winner will pull three ahead of the loser, the new year. that the London club did not ask for permission to speak to Arteta. with one round Liga matches left before the As Madrid hit their stride, Barcelona Defeat left Arsenal as close to the relegation zone as they are the two-week winter break. accelerated to keep up and the uncertainty top four and meant interim manager Freddie Ljungberg has won just Yet even for the loser, providing defeat around Valverde, although not gone, has, one of his four league games since the former Gunners midfielder is not a humiliation, the consequences will for now at least, faded. was brought in following Emery’s sacking last month. not be so grave. Their improvement cannot be entirely Arsenal are on a run of just one win from 12 games and Nicolas The gap in the table will be small and credited to the return of Lionel Messi, but his Pepe, their club-record signing, said the players had to take the blame considering where both these teams were only tion confirmed a clause in his contract that “At the start of the season, it’s not about eight goals, including two hat-tricks, and four for a woeful run of results. a few weeks ago, when every week brought allows him to join Barca after Euro 2020 winning one title, it’s about winning three assists in six games have certainly helped. “Us players have to do better quickly,” he said. “We have won only a new name linked with coaching jobs and next summer. or four,” said Valverde in November. “So Griezmann is finding his feet too, with three one game out of the last 12. It is not enough, we are Arsenal. every goal conceded planted another seed But if the rumours were an irritation, the frustration when you don’t win a game goals in his last five. (Source: AFP) of doubt. form on the pitch was a real concern. is high.” “It is true we were struggling but we For Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho was out Barcelona’s malaise was short-lived. They Zidane also shouldered burdens from have also done things well,” Valverde said Real and Barca braced for unusual of work and in the public eye, his increasingly won only two of their opening five games. last season. Even if it was not his team that last month. “Leaders in La Liga, first in our frequent media showings even appearing to Results improved but performances were limped its way through the final months, Champions League group. We have to fol- security steps ahead of ‘Clasico’ irk the usually immoveable Zidane. ponderous and the weaknesses all-too fa- he was in charge and some wondered why low our path.” “Football forgets what you’ve done in the miliar, the kind that had also gone unfixed nothing had changed. Judgement on Zidane’s second coming will Real Madrid and Barcelona may find it easier to get themselves psyched past,” said Zidane in October. before, only to prove costly later in the season. Suspicions grew when Madrid drew two be guided by Madrid’s staying power in the up for their rescheduled ‘Clasico’ La Liga clash on Wednesday, be- “I’m not going to tell you what they say In that sense, Valverde was carrying the of their first four league games and were league while for Valverde, success will hinge cause both sides will spend the hours before the match cooped up doesn’t bother me because it bothers me, but weight of previous disappointments and he thrashed away at Paris Saint-Germain. on Europe, where recapturing the trophy in the same hotel. I can’t prevent people giving their opinions.” was blamed for a leaky defence, lack of style ‘More life’ after four barren seasons seems now to be To minimize the disruption from Catalan independence protests For Barcelona, Ronald Koeman had and failure to get the best out of Antoine When they lost away at newly-promoted the minimum for Barcelona. planned for the afternoon, the police have recommended that the surged into view after the Dutch Federa- Griezmann. Mallorca, a week before the Clasico was meant (Source: AFP) two teams stay in the same hotel in the hours ahead of the match and then make the short journey to the Camp Nou at the same time. “We have been told to travel together and that’s what we will do,” said Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. Klopp laments timing of Club World Cup as Serie A criticized for anti-racism “I don’t know if that is giving in (to the protesters). It’s something Liverpool prepare for semi-final artwork featuring apes different and we just have to follow the rules. We don’t need to do any more explaining. The important thing is that the game is going ahead and that’s that.” The protest, taking place in several areas around the stadium four hours before kickoff, has been called by Democratic Tsunami, the group who organized disruptive actions in October in response to the jailing of Catalan independence leaders. Those protests led league organizers to postpone the Barca-Real match planned for Oct. 26, and when Wednesday’s demonstration was announced it led to fears that the match might have to be called off again. But authorities have promised the game will go ahead and Demo- cratic Tsunami, which says 25,000 people will attend the protest, say they do not want to disrupt the match and only wish to call for dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan authorities. (Source: Reuters) Schalke keeper Nuebel banned for four games for kung-fu foul Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool are fully of academy players due to the lack of Italy’s top-flight Serie A soccer league launched He said he got the idea for the paintings focused on winning this week’s Club World alternatives in a packed schedule. a new anti-racism campaign on Monday by after Napoli’s Senegalese defender Kalidou Schalke 04 goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel has been suspended for four Cup ahead of their semi-final against After the competition concludes, presenting artwork featuring three side-by- Koulibaly suffered racist insults during a games and fined for a brutal kung-fu style foul on Eintracht Frank- Monterrey of Mexico but hit out at the timing they will rush back home to prepare for side paintings of apes but the move has been match at Inter Milan last season. furt’s Mijat Gacinovic that earned him a straight red card, the German of the competition and questioned FIFA’s a trip to Leicester City -- their closest title described by campaign group Fare as a sick “I got so angry that... I got an idea. Why not Football Association said on Tuesday. plans to expand the tournament in future. challengers -- next Thursday, on the Boxing joke. stop censoring the word monkey in football The 23-year-old Germany youth international and Schalke captain “We are here now and we are completely Day holiday in the United Kingdom. The league said the paintings by Italian but turn the concept around and say instead charged out of his goal and tried to kick the ball away, but with his leg focused on it, but if you had asked me FIFA recently confirmed plans to artist Simone Fugazzotto would be exhibited that in the end we’re all apes?,” he said. at full stretch he crashed into the chest of the Frankfurt midfielder in beforehand if I think that there should expand the current seven-team Club permanently at the entrance to its main hall “Because if we are human beings, mon- the match on Sunday. be a Club World Cup in the middle of World Cup played in December to a 24- “to underline the commitment of the world of keys, reincarnated souls, energy or aliens Gacinovic tumbled to the ground and was left with several bruised our season, I would say no, in my honest team competition which will start in China football against all forms of discrimination.” who cares. The important thing is to hear a ribs and cuts to the chest, while the referee sent Nuebel off. Schalke opinion,” Klopp told journalists at the in 2021 and will be played in June and July It said the artwork “aims to spread the concept of equality and brotherhood.” eventually won the game 1-0. Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, -- that means a clash with the next Africa values of integration, multiculturalism and Italian football has been plagued by racism Nuebel will be out until late January, with the league breaking for where Liverpool face Monterrey on Cup of Nations, to be held at the same time. brotherhood”. with Inter Milan Belgium forward Romelu winter after this weekend and resuming in mid-January. He was also Wednesday. The existing format is particularly The paintings drew an angry backlash on Lukaku and Brescia’s Italian striker Mario fined 12,000 euros over the incident. The Anfield club have had to take time unloved in Europe, even if European clubs social media from outside Italy, although there Balotelli having been subjected to racist insults Gacinovic said later that it was an accident and that he did not out from their seemingly relentless march have won the last six editions. was little reaction inside the country itself. from rival fans during matches this season. blame the keeper. towards the Premier League title to travel Klopp added: “Can it be an even bigger “These creations are an outrage, they A veteran Italian pundit was dropped from (Source: Goal) to Qatar for the tournament, in which they tournament in the future? I don’t know. will be counter-productive and continue a Sunday night round table programme after are Europe’s representatives thanks to their We have to make sure that we have great the dehumanization of people of African suggesting Lukaku could only be stopped by Champions League triumph last season. competitions, but not at the same time, heritage,” said anti-racism group Fare. “It giving him bananas to eat, while Brescia’s St Etienne hit with stadium ban If Liverpool win against the Mexicans, that’s all. is difficult to see what Serie A was thinking, president said Balotelli’s problem was that he they will advance to a final on Saturday “I like now being here because we have who did they consult? was “black” and he was “trying to get whiter”. over fireworks during PSG match against either Flamengo of Brazil or Saudi a lot of fans in this part of the world, they “Once again Italian football leaves the Both men said their comments were not world speechless. In a country in which the St Etienne have been ordered to play their Ligue 1 matches behind side Al Hilal, while even if they lose their usually have to follow us at night time if intended to be taken seriously. authorities fail to deal with racism week after closed doors until further notice for “wide use of fireworks” in the semi-final they will remain in Qatar for a they want to watch our games so that’s Earlier this month, Italian sports daily week #SerieA have launched a campaign stands during Sunday’s home defeat by Paris St Germain, the French third-place play-off at the weekend. nice that we can come closer from time Corriere dello Sport used the headline ‘Black that looks like a sick joke.” Football League (LFP) said. Their Premier League trip to West Ham to time. Friday’ along with a picture of Lukaku and Milan-born Fugazzotto, described as The home supporters set off flares and fireworks at the Stade United, scheduled for this weekend, was “But everybody needs to think about AS Roma’s England defender Chris Small- being “known for his disruptive works”, is Geoffroy-Guichard as PSG forward Kylian Mbappe fired home an postponed as a result, and they have been it. If there is time for a tournament which ing to preview last Friday’s match between famous in Italy and almost all his art involves 89th-minute goal in a 4-0 win for the visitors. forced to play their League Cup quarter- is nice.” their clubs in Milan. drawings of chimpanzees. The referee was forced to blow the whistle in the last minute and final at Aston Villa on Tuesday with a squad (Source: Mirror) (Source: Reuters) stoppage time was not played. “In view of the particularly serious facts, there will be a total closed- door measure,” the LFP said in a statement. Paris St Germain extended their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 stand- Tennis in 2019: Nadal on top as new faces make mark in women’s game ings to seven points with a game in hand, courtesy of two goals from Rafael Nadal finished the season on top of the world to give dramatically, from 178th to fifth in the world, beating Ser- Mbappe and one each from Neymar and Mauro Icardi. the men’s rankings a familiar look but a new crop of women ena Williams in the final of the US Open to become the first (Source: Reuters) is showing the old guard can be overthrown. Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title. The Spanish world number one and Novak Djokovic won “NextGen is here,” Andreescu announced during her win- Van Nistelrooy, Stekelenburg two Grand Slams each in 2019, holding Father Time and their ning run at Flushing Meadows. young rivals at bay for another year. “You see many fresh faces and I think we’re only going to join Dutch staff for Euro 2020 But Ashleigh Barty and teenager Bianca Andreescu were get better from here.” two new faces on the list of women’s Major winners as familiar Roger Federer had two Wimbledon championship points Ex-Netherlands internationals Ruud van Nistelrooy and Maarten names slipped from view. on his own serve to beat Novak Djokovic and win his 21st Stekelenburg will join the national team›s coaching set-up for Euro AFP Sport looks at some of the big talking points of the season. Grand Slam title. That would have taken him six clear of the 2020, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced on Tuesday. He beat Novak Djokovic in the final and lost just three Serbian on the all-time list and three clear of Rafael Nadal Former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy, 43, will be released matches in the rest of the season, winning the French Open at the time. from his role as PSV Eindhoven›s youth coach for the competition. and the US Open before inspiring Spain to Davis Cup glory Instead, he faltered. Djokovic, in a match lasting a shade «It is a wonderful opportunity for me as an assistant coach to be on home soil, finishing as world number one for a fifth time. under five hours, won his 16th Grand Slam and two months part of the staff of the Orange for this final tournament,» van Nistelrooy With a combined age of 103, Nadal, Djokovic and Roger later Nadal won his 19th. said in a KNVB statement. Federer continue to dominate men’s tennis and it takes a champion,” said Tsitsipas after beating Dominic Thiem in “It’s such an incredible opportunity missed,” said the Swiss Stekelenburg, 47, starts his role alongside boss Ronald Koeman brave punter to predict their imminent demise. the final in London. veteran, now 38 and who must fear his days as the all-time immediately. But there is at last the sense of a credible challenge from Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, 23, rose from the relative leader on the list are numbered. «After all the great years with the KNVB youth teams, this is of an exciting crop of youngsters including Daniil Medvedev, anonymity of 15th in the world at the end of 2018 to top the Serena Williams is running out of opportunities to win course an excellent opportunity to work at the highest level,» said who pushed Nadal all the way in the US Open final, and ATP rankings a year later, winning the French Open and the WTA the 24th Grand Slam singles title that would pull her level Stekelenburg, who coached the Dutch under 19 side.A Finals winner Stefanos Tsitsipas. Finals along the way. with Margaret Court’s record. (Source: Soccernet) “I believe I’m really close to being crowned a Grand Slam Teenager Bianca Andreescu of Canada soared even more (Source: France 24) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2019 SPORTS 15

“Sports for All” meeting held in Tehran Iranian athlete wins SPORTS TEHRAN — “Sports for deskAll – fostering inclusion the Powerlifting World of persons with disabilities” meeting was Championships held in National Olympic and Paralympic Academy of Iran on Monday. IRNA — Mehdi Ghanbari, Iranian athlete and member of the The one-day seminar was headed by national power lifting team or weightlifting Iran, won the first Cvetan Cvetkovski, the officer in charge of place in the World Championships, the caretaker of Astara body- UNESCO Cluster Office in Tehran, to high- building squad said on Tuesday. light the important role played by sports and Astara is a Caspian city in Gilan Province. It lies on the border physical education in fostering inclusion of with Azerbaijan Republic and on the Caspian Sea. persons with disabilities. Mehdi Noruzi said on Monday that a tournament was held in Hojjatollah Ayoubi, Secretary-General Moscow, Russia on December 10-15 , with 3,000 athletes from of the Iranian National Commission for 40 countries competing in different ages. UNESCO, Abdolhamid Ahmadi, Deputy He said that Ghanbari won the first prize in the 140 minus Minister of Sports and Youth, and sports- weight category in the breaststroke and broke the record and women and sportsmen with disabilities won the championship with a 245 kg weightlifting. were among the attendees. He said that out of 22 Iranian athletes competing in the tour- “I would like to start by expressing nament, 10 athletes won top honors and the first one received a my sincere appreciation to the National gold medal from Astara at the Powerlifting World Championships. Olympic and Paralympic Committees and Academy, the Municipality of Tehran, the Iranian Federation of Sports for All, the Iran Sports Federation for the Disabled, Brazilian forward Jonathas and the University of Tehran. Your coop- eration and contribution to this event are de Jesus linked with highly appreciated. Without your cordial help, the success of this activity would not Persepolis become possible,” Cvetkovski said. “Lastly but also most importantly, I TASNIM — Brazilian striker Jonathas de Jesus has been linked would like to sincerely thank all the ath- with a move to Iranian football club Persepolis. letes, sportswomen and sportsmen present The 30-year-old currently plays in Brazilian club Corinthians. here. It is you who are the real heroines and Jonathas started his playing career in Cruzeiro of Brazil in heroes of the event. In a sense, the event is 2006 and was transferred to Alkmaar. He has also played in not only a one-day occasion, but also a life feel truly inspired by your optimism and ties through sports and physical education. reflected in the successful results that Iranian Italian clubs Brescia, Pescara and Torino. lesson. To be with you here reminds us one determination,” he added. This has brought along true benefits in their athletes obtain in all Paralympic competi- He joined Real Sociedad in 2015 and has also played in Rubin of the most principal lessons in life, and that “I would also like to pay tribute to the physical and mental health and their every- tions. As Nelson Mandela once famously Kazan and Hannover 96. is always to march on smiling no matter Government of Iran for the hard work they day life and activities. said, “Sports has the power to change the Persepolis are going to strengthen attack in January for the what obstacles are lying there in our way. have done in promotion of sports and physical “In addition, the hard work developed world”. And in fact, we need that power Iran Professional League and 2020 AFC Champions League. You help us understand more profound- education for persons with disabilities. Iran by the national authorities has been con- today more than ever before, to strengthen ly than ever the great value of sports for has positioned itself as a regional model in sidered as best practice by the International the grounds for more inclusive, healthy and stimulating the vitality of human kind. I fostering inclusion of people with disabili- Paralympic Committee and it is also well peaceful societies,” Cvetkovski stated. Iranian skiers win four Egypt victorious over Iran at FINA World Iran, Kazakhstan seal first win at AVC medals at Murat Junior Water Polo Continental Cup Dedeman FIS Cup

IRNA — Four Iranian skiers claimed medals at the Murat Dede- man FIS Cup underway in Palandoken, Erzurum in Turkey. In the women’s slalom, Turkey’s Ozlem Carikcioglu won the gold medal, clocking 1:36.67 and Iran’s Atefeh Ahmadi (1:37.51) and Sadaf Saveh Shemshaki (1:38.05) claimed silver and bronze medals respectively. In the men’s slalom, Tiriel Luka Abramovich from Turkey took the gold medal with a time of 1:25.39 and Behnam Kia Shemshaki (1:26.99) and Morteza Jafari (1:27.15) from Iran won silver and bronze, respectively. The international tournament has brought seven countries together.

Ali Karimi to compete at Dubai Marathon 2020

Former Iran and Persepolis midfielder Ali Karimi will participate SPORTS TEHRAN — Egypt de- The FINA World Men’s Junior Water SPORTS TEHRAN — Favorites and a berth in each gender to test their at the Dubai Marathon 2020. deskfeated Iran 11-7 at the Polo Championships 2019 is being held deskIran and Kazakhstan mettle in the 8-team 2020 AVC Beach He has made the announcement via his Instagram account FINA World Men’s Junior Water Polo in Kuwait from Dec. 12 to 20. got their AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Volleyball Continental Cup Finals, where on Tuesday. Championships on Tuesday. FINA Junior Water Polo World Cham- Cup Phase 1 – Central Zone campaigns only the eventual winners will qualify for The Dubai Marathon (official name Standard Chartered Dubai The Persians started the competi- pionships is an international water polo off to winning starts, with the former the Tokyo 2020. Marathon) is an annual marathon running race held in Dubai, tion with a 15-7 win over Kuwait at the tournament held every two years for outclassing Sri Lanka 2-0 and the latter The men’s competition featured top the United Arab Emirates. new Al-Nasar Sport Club Kuwait, but the players under the age of 20. It was powering past hosts India with the same seeds Iran, second seeds Kazakhstan, This event is considered as one of the first sporting events suffered three successive losses against launched by FINA in 1981 for men and margin. third seeds India and fourth seeds Sri on the city’s calendar, and taking advantage of the cooler winter the U.S. (27-4), Italy (16-4) and Mon- in 1995 for women. The double-gender tournament, Lanka, while Kazakhstan are top seeds temperatures. tenegro (17-4). The 2009 championships were played which is being held between December in the women’s event, with Sri Lanka and The Dubai Marathon will be held on January 24. Iran will play Brazil on Wednesday in with U18 teams each, but in 2011 the FINA 16 and 18, attracted four men’s and three India awarded second and third seedings The event features 42km, 10km and 4km fun run. the competition’s classification. switched to U20 teams again. women’s teams to vie for the top honor respectively. (Source: Persian Football)

Japan’s Ikee leaves hospital, aiming Ertz named U.S. Soccer’s female Canoeign research center to for Paris 2024 player of the year be established in Iran TOKYO (Reuters) — Japanese swim- World Cup winning midfielder Julie mer Rikako Ikee, who was diagnosed with Ertz was named U.S. Soccer’s female IRNA — The Islamic Republic of Iran is to establish canoeing leukemia earlier this year, said on Tuesday player of the year. research center to serve Asian countries in the field. that she has been discharged from hospital Ertz, who also won the award in Iran’s proposal to create a research center for canoeing in the and will be aiming to compete and win 2017, played a key role in her country’s country was offered at the 19th canoeing confederation annual medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. World Cup triumph and also led her congress that was held in Thailand. Ikee sprang onto the world stage at last club Chicago Red Stars to the National Also, Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province has been year’s Asian Games at the age of 18, winning Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) title chosen as a hub for teaching canoeing in a bid to promote this a record six gold medals in the pool and game for the first time. sport in the Middle East. setting the year’s fastest time in the world “All of my team mates just had such in the 100m butterfly. record tally of eight medals. an amazing year and we all know it takes to a second-placed finish in the league A big medal hope for hosts Japan for Ikee said she is still awaiting approval an entire team to win a World Cup or standings and was a key player in the the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ikee was then from her doctors to begin training in the have a successful club season,” Ertz, team’s playoff run, which ended in a 4-0 Tabatabaei comes 1st at diagnosed with leukemia in February. water but that she has been doing basic 27, said in a statement released by U.S. defeat to the North Carolina Courage. “Finally, I get out of hospital,” she wrote training already. Soccer. “It’s been a whirlwind of a year and Spanish chess festival on Twitter. “I will aim for Paris 2024 and I will work “It’s emotional to be recognized in one that I’m extremely grateful for,” “It has been hard, long days but I have hard to get medals there,” the 19-year-old this way and it’s a cherry on top of a said Ertz. IRNA — Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei from Iran finished in lots of encouragement and now want to wrote. beautiful 2019. It’s incredible.” “My team lifted me up in so many ways the first place at the sixth edition of the Sunway Sitges chess go back to my life.” Ikee holds Japanese national records Ertz was the U.S.’s midfield anchor and our experiences on and off the field festival underway in Sitges, Spain. Ikee, whose gold medal haul was the over 50, 100 and 200 meters in freestyle, at the World Cup, ensuring that they in 2019 just encapsulate the love I have most for a female athlete at a single Asian as well as 50 and 100 meters in butterfly did not concede more than one goal for the national team and for wearing this Games, also picked up two relay silvers to and was named Japanese Swimmer of the in any game. crest and what it represents.” match North Korean shooter So Gin Man’s Year in 2018. She also led the Chicago Red Stars (Source: Reuters) Iraqi refugee sets sights on Paralympics ATHENS (Reuters) — On his fifth attempt, Iraqi refu- as the Olympics, have had a refugees team since the Rio player, Sami, 29, was quick and determined. gee Wisam Sami finally succeeded in reaching Greece with Games in 2016. “He was watching the movement the opponent was thousands of others fleeing war in his homeland. Now he “I am just following my dreams,” Sami told Reuters. making and the next exact moment he was making the is setting his sights on the Paralympics. Sami spent six months living in a tent in a refugee camp counter movement,” said Koukos. “This is very, very Four years after reaching Greece on a journey that took on the island of Samos before moving to the mainland with good. This is his best skill.” him from war-torn Mosul to Athens via Turkey, Sami is support from the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR. Sami competed in the International Wheelchair and Amputee In blitz tournament, he won the gold with eight points (six hoping to bag a spot to compete in fencing at Tokyo 2020. A project by Greece’s Paralympic Committee for refu- Sports Federation Wheelchair fencing world cup in Warsaw wins, two draws). Sami, who was left with a permanent limp in his right gees caught Sami’s eye in 2017 and since then he has been in July and there are plans for him to compete in Italy and Indian chess players Erigaisi Arjun and Nihal Sarin finished leg after a medical mistake at an Iraqi hospital when he developing his sabre skills at a gym. Hungary to give him additional exposure to competitions. in second and third place, respectively with 7.5 and 7 points. was three, has spent the past two years training to be a “It gives me more excitement and I feel more strong,” said The International Paralympic Committee gives wild cards The competition is taking place in the Spanish city from De- wheelchair fencer. Sami, who used to work as a photographic designer in Mosul. to refugees to compete in a refugee team under the IPC flag. cember 13 to 22. He has competed internationally this year and is now Sami’s coach Leonidas Koukos, who is also aide to the “If I train more this helps me go to Tokyo,” Sami said. The tournament is a 10-round Swiss. The total prize fund is hopeful he could be selected. The Paralympics, as well head coach of the Greek Paralympic team, said that as a “This is the best moment for me.” 27,155 euros with a 5,000 first prize. Prayer Times Noon:12:01 Evening: 17:13 Dawn: 5:39 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:09 (tomorrow) DECEMBER 18, 2019 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 German-U.S. doc “Ringside” named [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 best at Cinéma Vérité festival Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. ARTTEHRAN — Tel: 88911433 desk“Ringside”, a German- Webmaster: [email protected] U.S. documentary about boxing talents Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 Kenny Jr. and Destyne Jr., was picked as best film in the international competition Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily of the 13th Cinéma Vérité, Iran’s major documentary film festival, the organizers No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 announced on Monday. Zip Code: 1599814713 Directed by André Hörmann looks at the dangerous, volatile world of Chicago’s South Side from the perspective of two remarkably gifted young boxers and the fathers who train them; as one begins a rising career in the ring, the other serves time in prison. The closing ceremony of the festival was organized at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall. Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Ostadali received an honorable mention in the GUIDE TO feature-length documentary category SPIRITUAL AWAKENING for his “Lunar Eclipse”, which is about a student in an Islamic seminary who is Oppressors are of three groups, those who oppress faced with the dilemma of choosing between their superiors through sins, those who bully living as a cleric or pursuing a career in their inferiors, and those who support oppressors. documentary cinema. Imam Ali (AS) The special jury award in this category was shared by “Sheep Hero” by Dutch filmmaker Ton van Zantvoort and “No Place for Angels” by Iranian director Sam Kalantari. In the mid-length category, “Breathless “Goodbye, Commander” Animals” by American filmmaker Lei Lei published in Arabic was named best documentary. The film is about a Chinese woman who German director André Hörmann (R) receives his award from jury members Mehrdad Oskui (L) and Zlatina speaks only in voiceover and is never seen. ARTTEHRAN — “Goodbye, Commander”, Rousseva during the closing ceremony of the 13th Cinéma Vérité at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on December 16, 2109. Her account is one of hardship, of a mother deska memoir of martyr Brigadier General (Fars/Meisam Mahabadi) Hossein Hamedani’s widow, Fatemeh Cheraghnoruzi, has who died young, of a father sent to a farm been published in Arabic. for reform during the Cultural Revolution, Norway, and Lithuania by Laila Pakalnina and Hossein Momen, the film is about a fierce Iranian city of Kerman. of all the things the family lacked. “Then Comes the Evening”, a co-production battle between Iranian forces and ISIS Morteza Payeshenas and Hossein The award for best short documentary in between Serbia and Bosnia by Maja Novakovic, terrorists in Syria. Momen received the award for best director the international competition remained at shared the special jury prize in the short and Mohsen Ostadali was selected as in the mid-length film section, and “The home as Iranian director Jafar Najafi’s “Asho” mid-length categories. best director for “Lunar Eclipse”, and Waterfall” by Ali Shahabinejad won the won the award. The film is about a shepherd In the national competition, the award the special jury award was presented award for best short. boy who is obsessed with Hollywood movies for best documentary went to “The Barrage” to Mohammad-Sadeq Esmaeili for his The Cinéma Vérité festival is organized and wants to become an actor. produced by Morteza Sha’bani. “Ador” about the repercussions of living every year in December by Iran’s Documentary “Spoon”, a co-production of Latvia, Directed by Morteza Payeshenas and in the shantytowns outside of the central and Experimental Film Center (DEFC). Iranian band Anu commemorates Rumi in Konya ARTTEHRAN — Iranian band Anu gave a Konya’s Culture and Tourism director Abdussettar Yarar deskperformance in the Turkish town of Konya also said that a number of programs are organized every on Sunday in a series of programs arranged to commemorate year from December 7 to 17 to observe the death anniversary the 746th death anniversary of the Persian mystic and poet, of Rumi. This photo shows copies of the Persian and Arabic versions Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273). This year the programs include performances of sama, of “Goodbye Commander”. The performance took place in a tent set up by the Konya a Sufi ecstatic dance, exhibitions of calligraphy, handcrafts Hamedani, who was a senior military advisor to the Islamic Culture and Tourism Directorate in Mevlana Celaleddin and live music performances. Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), was martyred in October 2015 Rumi Square across from the mausoleum of Rumi, Turkey’s He also added that since the love of Rumi finds during a mission in Syria. state-run news agency Anadolu has reported in Persian. common ground among the people in Iran, Turkey Iranian band Anu gives a performance in Konya on The book, compiled by Hamid Hesam, recounts Cheraghnoruzi’s “This is the second year the band is giving performances and Afghanistan, these countries have been organizing December 15, 2019 to commemorate the 746th death memories of their stay in Syria, publisher Besat has announced. at the ceremony,” the band conductor Mohammadreza programs over the past few years to introduce the great anniversary of Rumi. (Anadolu) The story of “Goodbye, Commander”, translated into Arabic Najmi said. person to the world. by Masud Ahmadi, begins in 2011 when the commander and his family left Iran to join Syrian forces in their war against ISIS. The book also returns to the 1960s and continues with the 1980- Iranian culture minister, Slovenian 1988 Iran-Iraq war and multiple missions of the commander during the war. ambassador meet in Tehran CULTURE TEHRAN — The Iranian readiness to expand its cultural ties with deskMinister of Culture and Iran in music area. “Yeva” tops at Vitré Iranian Islamic Guidance, Abbas Salehi, and She noted that the expansion of cultural Slovenian Ambassador Kristina Radej relations will help people of the two countries film festival meet in Tehran on Tuesday. develop greater understanding of each other. The expansion of cultural relations Salehi for his part also noted that the ARTTEHRAN — Iranian-Armenian filmmaker deskAnahid Abad’s acclaimed drama “Yeva” won between the two countries was discussed two countries have signed some cultural first prize at the 1st edition of the New Images of Iran (Nouvelles at the meeting. memorandums of understanding (MOU), Images d’Iran), an Iranian film festival in Vitré, France on Sunday. Radej said that her country has had which give the two countries significant Produced by Farabi and the National Cinema Center of Armenia, longstanding relations and cooperation prospects for cultural collaborations in Slovenian Ambassador Kristina Radej (L) and Iranian Minister of Culture and the film tells the story of Yeva, a young woman who escapes her with Iran, and announced her country’s the future. Islamic Guidance, Abbas Salehi (3rd L) meet in Tehran on December 17, 2019. influential in-laws with her daughter Nareh after her husband’s tragic death, and takes refuge in one of the villages in the Karabakh region. She is a complete stranger in this ballgame and is obliged French New Wave film legend Anna Singapore artist channels ‘creepy-cute’ to live her daily life in disguise. Karina dies at 79 with baby heads in sushi rolls

“Yeva” by Iranian-Armenian filmmaker Anahid Abad. “Yeva” was Armenia’s submission to the 90th Academy Awards, but it did not make the shortlist. “A House on 41st Street” by Hamidreza Qorbani and “Villa Dwellers” by Monir Qeidi took second and third prizes respectively. “Villa Dwellers” is about the wives of the Iranian army commanders, who live in residential villas for army forces in French film actress Anna Karina and director Costa Gavras arrive for a screening southern Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. at the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France, May 16, 2009. (Reuters/Eric Gaillard) “A House on 41st Street” is about a middle-class family in Tehran, which falls apart when one brother kills another brother PARIS (Reuters) — Danish-born actress “Her gaze was the gaze of the Nouvelle SINGAPORE (Reuters) — At first glance perceptions of what is beauty.” over a bounced check. Anna Karina, one of the most acclaimed Vague (New Wave). It will remain so the works of Singaporean artist Qixuan The 28-year old studied in the Netherlands A lineup of 12 Iranian short and feature films was screened at luminaries of influential French New Wave forever,” French Culture Minister Franck Lim have a familiar, edible appearance. is now a full-time information designer. She the festival, which was held from December 11 to 15. cinema, has died of cancer at age 79, her Riester tweeted about Karina, an icon But upon a closer look at the sardine first showed her works in 2017, while still a The movies were selected by a committee composed of Iranian agent said on Sunday. of 1960s chic. “Today, French cinema tin - and it’s packed with tiny human hearts student. Since then her Instagram account, filmmaker Abolfazl Jalili, Vitré Mayor Pierre Méhaignerie, Karina, famous for her kohl-rimmed has been orphaned. It has lost one of made of clay, cherubic arms and legs or where she posts pictures of her art, has Franco-Iranian Center director Alireza Khalili, member of the blue eyes, was the frequent muse of director its legends.” other human body parts. attracted a following of more than 100,000. editorial board of Paris-Tehran Magazine Fatemeh Shadman, Jean-Luc Godard, her first husband, Karina also worked with other great “I think my art has always been about Now back in Singapore, Lim describes founder of the Garromedia Cultural Association Laurent Garreau, starring in seven of his films including directors including Lucchino Visconti, that combination of things that people herself as a part-time artist. She has no studio French literature expert Vahid Yaghubi and French art historian “A Woman is a Woman”, “Pierrot Le Fou” Jacques Rivette and Rainer Werner find sort of traditionally, typically cute, but creates most of her works in her bedroom. Jean-Claude Voisin. and “Bande a Part” (Band of Outsiders). Fassbinder, and had leading roles in some but having a darker twist and a darker She uses the oven in the kitchen as a kiln. The New Images of Iran was organized by the Franco- Her agent Laurent Balandras told major English-language productions in element to it,” says Lim, who is known Despite her modest production facilities, Iranian Center in collaboration with Aurore Cinema, House of French media that she passed away in the late 1960s and early 1980s. by her social media accounts and by her her macabre works are continuing to attract World Cultures, Ouest France and World Trade Center Rennes Paris on Saturday in the company of She later did some directing and had a fans as QimmyShimmy. fans and she recently exhibited her creations Bretagne along with several other French centers and Iran’s her fourth husband, American director singing career, recording “Sous Le Soleil “There are still a lot of aesthetics and at a gallery in Japan, where “creepy-cute” Farabi Cinema Foundation. Dennis Berry. Exactement” by Serge Gainsbourg. ideas of beauty that are tied onto our is a trend in pop culture.