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16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13335 Saturday FEBRUARY 23, 2019 Esfand 4, 1397 Jumada Al thani 17, 1440 Cleric lauds Leader’s hacked and Iran point guard University of Tehran to guidance for second phase controlled Davoudi bids farewell to honor Polish orientalist of the revolution 2 U.S. drones 2 national team 15 Anna Krasnowolska 16 Iraq to import Iranian energy avoiding U.S. dollar: Iraqi official TEHRAN — Iraq is close to finalize a dinars, or in oil”, the official added. deal for importing Iranian energy despite “The U.S. has been pressuring Iraq American sanctions by avoiding the U.S. to end its purchases of Iranian natural dollar, an Iraqi official said. gas and electricity, which meet a large Saudi “A big delegation came from the Iranian share of domestic energy needs. In the central bank and the idea was proposed meantime, it has extended to Baghdad to trade with Iran in euros,” Bloomberg a temporary waiver from the sanctions quoted Abdulkarim Hashim Mustafa, the targeting Iran that President Donald special adviser to Iraq’s prime minister, Trump reimposed last year after pulling as saying in an interview. out of the Iranian nuclear deal”, Mustafa ruining “There are other ideas to pay in Iraqi said. 4 Iran launches naval drills in Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman TEHRAN – On Friday, Iranian naval down to the 10-degrees latitude. forces started a three-day drill in the Per- A new domestically made submarine sian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. dubbed “Fateh (Conqueror)” and the Sa- The large-scale drill is being held in an hand destroyer are also participating in the area of two million square kilometers, from war game. Navy Commander Rear Admiral Pakistan See page 2 the Strait of Hormuz to the southeastern Hossein Khanzadi said on Thursday that coasts of Makran, the Sea of Oman and the military exercise is composed of four the northern parts of the Indian Ocean, separate phases, 2

Zarif says INSTEX is a prerequisite for implementation of European promises TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister not one of them, it is only a prereq- Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that IN- uisite for the implementation of the STEX, a financial channel for trade with promises,” he said in an interview with Iran in the face of U.S. sanctions, is just the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger a prerequisite for implementation of the published on Thursday. European promises. The nuclear agreement, officially “When the U.S. withdrew from known as the Joint Comprehensive the [2015] nuclear agreement, the Plan of Action, predicts normalization of remaining parties made a series of economic relations but a trading system commitments which consist of 12 like INSTEX is not normalization, the File photo points. This financial mechanism is chief diplomat added. 3 ARTICLE Stronger SA likely to spread its extremist ideology : Zonis ARTICLE Martin Love act, we reached out to Marvin Zonis, professor of an idea which almost died when he was fired. There Hakim Mohammad Ilyas Political analyst from EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Social activist By Payman Yazdani international political economy and leadership are still officials in the Trump administration who North Carolina in the University of Chicago. would like to do that. Since the transfer of that TEHRAN — Commenting on the consequences Here is the full text of his interview: technology requires support from Congress and of selling sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi What can be the consequences of such act the Democrats now control the House of Repre- Maybe it is always Arabia, Marvin Zonis says stronger Saudi Arabia for the region? sentatives, that sale will not go ahead. But the idea Where do Muslims will likely spread its extremist ideology. A: The first National Security Adviser to newly is a particularly bad one because it would certain- darkest, like now, The U.S. President is rushing to inaugurated President Trump was Michael Flynn, ly increase the pressure on other Middle Eastern stand in India! transfer sensitive nuclear power technology to Saudi a retired general who has been found guilty of lying states to acquire nuclear technology — Turkey in before any dawn Arabia, according to a new congressional report. to the FBI and is awaiting sentencing. He pushed particular — and would support those voices in he Constitution of India enshrines in article 51A (e) that every citizen To know more about the consequences of such the idea of selling nuclear reactors to Saudi Arabia, Iran who support resuming enrichment. 7 he best possible slap in the face of Tis bound by the fundamental duty the GOP and Trump and his gaggle to promote harmony and the spirit of Tof warmongering advisors and ap- common brotherhood amongst all the pointees arrived recently when the Na- U.S. withdrawal from the INF treaty was a big mistake: Pillar people of India transcending religious tional Iranian American Council as well By Giovanni Sorbello behavior in the international arena is on the path Do you think that the behavior of some diversities. Articles 15 reads as “The State as the Democratic National Committee SICILY — The withdrawal of the to peace and stability, or will the world bring war? European countries in Trump puzzle will boost shall not discriminate against any citizen apparently adopted a resolution to return from the INF contract has become a major concern A: Donald Trump won some of his votes in the the European Union or will it fail? on grounds of religion.” Accordingly in the U.S. to compliance with the JCPOA for global peace and security lovers, and many an- 2016 presidential election by posing as the less A: Trump represents a challenge to the European Article 16 which reads “No citizen shall, and suggests it is possible…should the alysts have assessed this incident as a way to war. hawkish, less interventionist candidate. Although Union. He explicitly rejects the concept that the EU on grounds of religion, be discriminated Democrats manage win back the White We spoke with Paul R. Pillar, an academic, his announced troop withdrawal from Syria and is a positive force for peace and prosperity in Europe against in respect of, any employment or House in late 2020. But don’t count on a agent of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from partial withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and a historic turn away from the conflicts that have office under the State.” But in reality there Democratic victory in 2020 yet, whoever 1977 to 2005. He currently works at the Center may be consistent with that image, some of his generated devastating European wars in the past. is a different story for muslim communi- the nominee turns out to be. Why? for Security Studies of Georgetown University, other policies have increased the chance of war. Trump also regards the EU as an economic adver- ty. Muslims are dominant minority (18 Because the field of candidates is al- in the Center for the Safety and Intelligence of Specifically, the intense effort to generate hostility sary rather than a partner. He sees the economic crore). Incidentally there are 56 Muslim ready possibly too large with Democratic the Brookings Institution. toward Iran and to reject diplomacy as a way for relationship between the EU and the United States countries in the world, Plus, 20 countries Party competitors, for one thing, and for Here is the full text of his interview: dealing with issues involving Iran has raised the as a win-lose contest rather than a trade relationship where Muslims are dominant minority. the average voter, given the fact that each Do you think that Trump’s unilateralist risk of a U.S.-Iranian military conflict. that can be mutually beneficial. 7 National Muslim population as per one of the candidates have staked out dif- census 2011 is 14.2 % (18 crore) hence ferent positions (and they are not set in there should have been 77 Muslim mem- concrete among any of them.) It’s all too bers in the Lok Sabha (Parliament) out of darn confusing for the average confused FATF gives Iran until June to strengthen anti-money laundering rules 543. But the average number of Muslims American voter, and Trump may just have POLITICS TEHRAN — Iran has until Iran until February to complete an action plan reform path”, according to . in Lok Saba since 1952 to 2014 has not to remain Trump and he is already in the deskJune to fix its anti-money of reforms that would bring it in line with global If the shortcomings were not remedied by exceeded above 25 in number. In present . laundering and terrorism financing rules or face norms, or face consequences. June, currently suspended countermeasures Union Council of 78 Ministers, there is only Tulsi Gabbard, a Congressional rep increased international scrutiny of its banks, a The FATF concluded this week at a would automatically kick in, said Marshall Bill- one Muslim minister in Proportion of 12. from Hawaii, is just one case in point. global watchdog said on Friday. meeting that “there are still items not ingslea, the U.S. assistant Treasury Secretary A large cross section of the people in She began her campaign last month de- Last October, the Paris-based Financial Action completed” and said in a statement it for terrorist financing, after chairing the FATF India have the conviction that political par- manding that the U.S. end its regime Task Force (FATF) watchdog had already given “expects Iran to proceed swiftly in the meeting 2 ticipation and representation in governance change war, leave the Mideast including structures is essential to achieve equity. The Afghanistan and Syria and focus on in- participation is denied to Muslims through ternal problems in the U.S. This posture a variety of mechanisms. For instance, many has frightened the so-called Deep State, names of Muslims were missing in the voter which presumably includes the “national lists in number of states. security” complex of organizations like Muslim concentration constituencies the military and the CIA, and also the of Assemblies and Parliament declared as Zionists represented by secretive and reserved for Schedule Caste whereas con- not so secret Think Tanks and lobbies Momen passes stituencies with very low Muslim popula- such as AIPAC …all of whom are on the tion but high Schedule Cast concentration gravy train for money and perks of all away at 81 remain unreserved. The Muslims are being kinds from the overspent Treasury. systematically denied political participation. In addition, already, Gabbard is Ayatollah Mohammad Momen, a member The Justice Sachar Committee (a high-level weakening her position by claiming of the and the Guard- committee nominated by Prime Minister this week that Assad in Syria without ian Council, passed away at the age of 81 of India Dr. Manmohan Singh headed by a doubt used chemical weapons in Syria in a hospital in Tehran on Thursday after Justice Rajinder Sachar) has collected data to defeat the opposition – throwing a spending the past two months battling with from all over the country in this regard. bone to the dogs of war. She formerly brain hemorrhage and respiratory problems. In the field of literacy the rate among seemed to deny that Assad deployed In a message on Friday, Leader of the Muslims is far below than the national chemical weapons. Islamic Revolution Ayatollah average. The gap between Muslims and the And one does not even have to mention expressed his condolences over Ayatollah general average is greater in urban areas candidates like Bernie Sanders who, despite Momen’s demise. and women. 25 percent of Muslim children raking in a record amount of money upon The Leader hailed Ayatollah Momen as in the 6-14 year age group have either announcing his bid for the Presidency a an active figure before and after the Islamic never attended school or have dropped few days ago, may well have a platform Revolution, saying his demise was a loss for out. Dropout rates among Muslims are File photo that, ironically, is far too radically sane the seminary, Mehr reported. higher at the level of primary, middle and and sensible to beat Trump. 7 higher secondary. 7 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS FEBRUARY 23, 2019 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Cleric lauds Iran’s missile program Leader’s guidance for second phase of the revolution non-negotiable: Salehi POLITICS TEHRAN — Mohammad-Hassan POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Akbar Minister Heiko Maas and British Foreign deskAboutorabi Fard, the interim Friday deskSalehi, director of Iran’s Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said INSTEX will prayer leader of Tehran, said the Leader’s guidance Atomic Energy Organization, has said that support legitimate European trade with Iran. for the “second phase” of the Islamic Revolution is a Iran’s missile program is “non-negotiable”. ‘ conference was a dis- charter for self-improvement and society building and In an interview with Aljazeera aired on grace’ is also a new chapter for the Iranian nation’s revolu- Thursday, he said that Iran has repeatedly Salehi also said that the Warsaw confer- tionary movement. said that its missiles are purely deterrent ence on the Middle East was “fruitless” and Addressing worshippers, Aboutorabi Fard further said and defensive. a “disgrace” for Washington. the Leader’s statement provides a clear explanation on the Salehi also said that Iran can resist sanc- The Warsaw conference was organized past and sets a roadmap for solidifying a dynamic Islamic tions and will not give in to foreign pressure by the U.S. in the Polish capital Warsaw on system to reach an Islamic civilization, Mehr reported. due to its self-sufficiency in various areas. February 13-14. It was intended to isolate “The Islamic Republic is not passive, but it is like a Salehi, a nuclear physicist, also said that Iran. However, the conference faced a cold living wilful phenomenon which is always dynamic and Iran has technological capability to return shoulder. EU chief diplomat Mogherini did corrects its mistakes,” he added. to pre-JCPOA situation. not attend the conference. European offi- He urged the European countries to re- cials, the main allies of the U.S. in NATO, main committed to the 2015 nuclear deal, either boycotted the conference or sent Hajizadeh: Iran officially known as the Joint Comprehensive low-ranking officials to Warsaw. Plan of Action. ‘Iran ready to hold talks with hacked and The Europeans have taken first step, he Saudi Arabia’ controlled U.S. said, expressing hope that they will take more Salehi also said that Iran is ready to hold steps in next months to preserve the JCPOA. talks with Saudi Arabia to settle differences. drones In May 2018, U.S. President Donald “Iran has just good intentions for the Trump unilaterally pulled Washington out Persian Gulf littoral states. We want secu- POLITICS TEHRAN — Amir Ali Hajizadeh, of the JCPOA and ordered reimposition on November 4. imate trade between European economic rity and stability for these countries, but desk commander of the aerospace unit of of sanctions against Iran. The first round After months of delay on January 31, operators and Iran. they have a different view,” noted Salehi, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, has said Iran has of sanctions went into force on August 6 France, Germany and Britain finally an- The European Union foreign policy chief a soft-spoken nuclear scientist who also managed to take control of several U.S. drones. and the second round, which targets Iran’s nounced the creation of INSTEX, a special Federica Mogherini, French Foreign Min- served as foreign minister and Iran’s rep- As proof of Tehran’s claim, it has released some footage, oil exports and banks, were snapped back purpose vehicle aimed at facilitating legit- ister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign resentative to the Jeddah-based OIC office. apparently taken from the drones’ cameras. “Seven to eight drones that had constant flights over Syria and Iraq were brought under our control and their intel was monitored by us and we could gain General Soleimani to Pakistanis: Saudi Arabia is ruining your country their first-hand intel,” RT reported, citing Fars which POLITICS TEHRAN — General Qassem Soleima- gating the terrorist act. Jaish al-Adl was founded after its parent group, the al-Qa- quoted Hajizadeh. deskni, commander of the IRGC Quds Force, Soleimani said Iran does not want mere condolences, but eda-affiliated Jundullah, was dissolved following the capture Fars released a video, which it called “one of the many warned the Pakistanis on Thursday to be aware of attempts concrete action from neighboring Pakistan, asking, “Can’t of its leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, by Iran in 2010. proofs in support of General Hajizadeh’s remarks.” by Saudi Arabia to ruin their country through its “money”. you, as a nuclear-armed state, deal with a hundreds-strong In 2013, the group abducted and killed 14 Iranian forces “Our concern is that why the Pakistani government and terrorist group in the region?” in an ambush near the Iranian-Pakistani border. Iranian envoy people let the Saudis provide Takfiris with money which The top general reiterated threats by other Iranian mili- The following year, at least five members of the Iranian will cause the world’s confrontation against Pakistan,” tary and civilian officials that Tehran will not let the culprits security forces were also abducted. meets Masoud the general lamented. behind the attack to go unpunished. In October 2018, the armed group abducted 12 Iranian On February 13, a car laden with explosives hit a bus of IRGC A few days after the incident, the IRGC Ground Force security personnel near the city of Zahedan. Pakistani se- Barzani soldiers on Zahedan-Khash road in Iran’s border province of commander said the suicide attack on the bus was carried curity forces later intervened and secured the release of at Sistan-Balouchestan, killing 27 and injuring the remaining 13. out by a Pakistani national. Two other Pakistani nationals least five of the 12 abductees. The Pakistan-based Jaish ul-Adl Takfiri terrorist group, involved in the attack have also been nabbed. In November 2018, the Iranian Interior Ministry warned POLITICS TEHRAN — The Iranian Ambassa- which has ties to al-Qaeda and the Al Saud regime, claimed Iran has strongly criticized Islamabad for failing to pro- that Iranian armed forces may launch operations against deskdor to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, held talks on responsibility for the attack. tect its borders with Iran, saying Pakistan has been turned terrorists inside the Pakistani territory in case Islamabad Thursday with Masoud Barzani, former president of the Pakistan has vowed to cooperate with Iran in investi- into a safe haven for terrorist outfits such as Jaish al-Adl. fails to do its part. Iraqi Kurdistan Region. During the meeting, Masjedi described bilateral ties as strategic, saying prospects for mutual cooperation are bright, IRNA reported. World has had enough of America’s unilateralism: Qassemi “Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s economic situation will improve POLITICS TEHRAN — Foreign tions policy against the Iranian nation, with Tehran, saying such problems are in light of mutual collaboration,” he said, adding that Iran deskMinistry spokesman Bah- emphasizing that such pressure will fail “rooted in the unfair sanctions that the has remarkable volume of trade with Iran and the Kurdistan ram Qassemi has said the international com- to affect the country’s independent deci- U.S. re-imposed on Iran...after leaving the Regional Government (KRG). munity has grown sick and tired of America’s sion-making process. JCPOA and violating [UN Security Council] Transfer of Iran’s gas to the KRG, mutual cooper- unilateralism, and that world nations such According to Qassemi, Iran “bases its de- Resolution 2231.” ation and private sector’s engagement can provide as China and as well as Washington’s cisions on the principles of independence Qassemi further played down the long- suitable opportunities for boosting relations, the European allies have chosen to stand up to and national interests. Tehran’s policies do term impacts of the American sanctions, Iranian envoy stated. the Donald Trump administration. not rely on the viewpoints of world powers.” saying, “Our people have already experienced “The fact that China, Russia and Europe The spokesman also condemned the U.S. such conditions and they remain highly are standing up to the U.S., at least on the government’s destructive policies in the Mid- sensitive to their independence. We are Two Daesh-linked political stage, is a step forward and heralds dle East, saying Washington’s wrong decisions capable of overcoming the sanctions and a change in global conditions compared to in the region leave the Iranian nation with moving on from this crisis.” terrorist teams the past,” Press TV quoted Qassemi as saying no choice but resistance. On U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer ed that Washington must first rebuild the disbanded in on Thursday, citing China’s Global Times. The official described Washington as of talks with Iran, Qassemi said America is “lost trust” if it really seeks dialog with the He decried Washington’s hostile sanc- the initiator of a fresh wave of tensions not after serious negotiations. He suggest- Islamic Republic. Kurdistan Province POLITICS TEHRAN — Members of two terrorist deskteams aligned with Daesh (ISIS) who FATF gives Iran until June to strengthen anti-money laundering rules planned to conduct attacks and bombings inside Iran have 1 “That is a significant indication from the FATF that the FATF is joining the United Nations Convention On January 21, the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) sent the been arrested in Kurdistan Province, the Intelligence Min- time has expired, the action plan is overdue and we expect it against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), CFT bill, which the says there is still 19 istry announced on Thursday. to be implemented without delay,” Billingslea told journalists. which is also called the Palermo Convention, a 2000 faults with it, to the Expediency Council for final decision. “13 individuals in the form of two terrorist teams af- If countermeasures are reimposed, FATF members United Nations-sponsored multilateral treaty against On October 7, 2018, the parliament voted in favor of filiated with the Daesh [terrorist] group who were after worldwide would be required to step up supervision of transnational organized crime. the CFT. At the time, a total of 143 lawmakers out of 268 conducting bombing attacks, killing people and assassi- Iranian bank branches on their territory, including on-site The other action is to join the CFT (the convention com- ones present in the parliament voted in favor of the bill. nating some Sunni clerics in the country were identified inspections, Billinglsea said. batting financing of terrorism). However, the oversight Guardian Council rejected the bill and arrested by intelligence forces in Kurdistan Province,” In the absence of compliance, the FATF called on its The Expediency Council in January put these two con- by finding 22 faults with it. the ministry said in a statement, Mehr reported. members to advise their banks to scrutinize all business ventions on agenda, but has since postponed a final decision To become a law, the Guardian Council should vet the Some of these individuals underwent military training with Iran, including obtaining information on reasons for in two-weekly times. bill for compliance with the Constitution. abroad and were led by one of Daesh’s top leaders, the intended transactions, stepping up controls on transactions While not joining the conventions puts Iran at risk of According to the constitution, in cases when the parlia- statement added. and identifying patters of transaction for further scrutiny. international isolation, conservatives in Tehran argue that ment and the Guardian Council disagree on a bill the issue Foreign businesses say compliance and Iran’s removal accession to the FATF requires voluntarily accepting re- is referred to the Expediency Council for final arbitration. World should from the FATF’s blacklist is key for making investments in strictions set out especially by the U.S. In October, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a member of the the country, especially after the United States re-imposed MP Abolfazl Hasanbeigi in January claimed that Su- Assembly of Experts and a well-established conservative reassess ties with sanctions on Iran. preme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani figure, criticized the notion of joining the FATF, comparing France, Britain and Germany have tied this compliance in a closed session of the parliament clearly said that joining it with “going to the gallows”. Tehran: Chatham angle with the use of a new channel for non-dollar trade the CFT will not be in the interests of the Islamic Republic. “The FATF’s executive secretary has said there’s no guar- with Iran to avert U.S. sanctions. However, Mohammad Rezaz Nobakht, a close associate antee Iran would be removed from its blacklist,” Khatami House researcher Those countries have said they expected Iran would to President Rouhani who heads the Budget and Planning told worshippers in Tehran at the time, asking, “Now that POLITICS TEHRAN — The 40th anniversary of Iran’s swiftly put into place all elements of its FATF action plan. Organization, said the Supreme National Security Council there’s no guarantee, why should we tie such noose around deskIslamic Revolution marks a big turning One of the actions Iran is required to take to appease favored joining the FATF. our neck and strangle ourselves?” point in the country’s history and the time has come for the world community to reassess its ties with Tehran, a senior research fellow at Chatham House has said. Pro-diplomacy groups urge Congress Zarif warns Israel about its warlike Addressing a round-table meeting in Chatham House, to check Trump’s anti-Iran policy adventurism Sanam Vakil said the world should stop opposing Iran’s revolution, IRNA reported on Friday. Over 50 pro-diplomacy organizations in impact Iranian civilians” and “ nec- POLITICS TEHRAN — Foreign Israel of looking for war and warned that She added that on the anniversary of the victory of the United States have slammed Presi- essary humanitarian and medical supplies deskMinister Mohammad its actions and those of the United States Iran’s revolution, people staged rallies in support of dent Donald Trump’s aggressive anti-Iran from reaching the country.” Javad Zarif has warned the Israeli regime were increasing the chances of a clash government and listened to speeches of the country’s policy, calling on congressmen to stand They also urged members of Congress that its “dangerous” adventurism with its in the region. senior officials, especially Leader of Islamic Revolution against Washington’s sanctions and press to support “good faith diplomacy” and bombing campaign in Syria could result Also in an interview with NBC News Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. it to return to the 2015 multinational oppose “starting a war of choice with Iran.” in a military conflict in the region. during his visit to Munich, the Iranian nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Under the administration of Trump, “There is adventurism on Israel’s foreign minister warned the U.S. and its Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). the U.S. has stepped up its pressure cam- side, and adventurism is always dan- allies that it would be “suicidal” to go to Iran launches naval drills in In a statement addressed to Congress paign against Iran. gerous,” Zarif said in an interview with a war with Iran. Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman on Wednesday, the groups, which rep- The campaign reached its peak last the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper He said the “same gang” behind the resent millions of American people, year, when Trump unilaterally withdrew published on Wednesday, Press TV U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 were “at outlined their demands, according to America from the JCPOA in defiance of reported. it again” in pushing for war with Iran. 1 including naval parades, simulation of a real naval war, commondreams.org. international criticisms and unleashed Iran is in Syria at the invitation of “I’m not saying [U.S.] President maritime and land offense to practice recapturing the territories They also urged Congress to oppose the “toughest ever” sanctions against the the Syrian government, while Israel is [Donald] Trump’s administration, I’m occupied by the enemy, and the display of the Navy’s power by the sanctions, which the Trump admin- Islamic Republic. violating Lebanese and Syrian air space, saying people in President Trump’s launching various types of missiles and torpedoes. istration re-imposed on Iran following The White House has also warned its as well as international law, Zarif said. administration are trying to create the He said the submarines will also launch missiles in the ex- its pullout from the accord. European allies in the JCPOA against Asked about the possibility of a military same eventually and I believe they will ercise, noting that anti-submarine helicopters will also land on They said that the anti-Iran bans “dis- seeking to circumvent the illegal sanctions. conflict with Israel, he said he does not fail,” he argued. and take off from the Sahand destroyer’s deck. rupt any party’s implementation of the CREDO Action, one of the signatories see that coming “but we cannot exclude “But I think at the end of the day, Electronic warfare tactics and electronic data transmission JCPOA,” “prevent the United States from to the statement, defended the JCPOA, the possibility.” some sense will prevail and people will from the coast are among other parts of the exercise, he said coming back into compliance with the saying, “It’s good for U.S. security and In his earlier remarks at the Munich find out that it’s suicidal to engage in a according to Press TV. JCPOA in the future,” “disproportionately for our allies.” Security Conference, Zarif had accused war with Iran,” Zarif added. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 23, 2019 INTERNATIONAL

Maduro shuts Venezuela’s border Another British Labour MP quits party in protest against with Brazil amid aid standoff ‘anti-Semitism’ A ninth British parliamentarian has quit the opposition Labour Maduro: Venezuela possesses advanced weapons, warns Party, accusing it of having a “culture of extremism, anti-Semitism and intolerance” under its leader Jeremy Corbyn. Ian Austin, MP for Dudley North, said on Friday he was appalled at the treatment of Jewish legislators who had taken a stand against U.S. against aggression anti-Semitism and that the “the party is tougher on the people com- plaining about anti-Semitism than it is on the anti-Semites”. By staff & agencies of the opposition-run National Assembly. The party was “broken” and had been taken over by the “hard He explained that any transition must left”, he told the Express & Star newspaper. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has include “Chavismo,” the left-wing move- “The Labour Party has been my life, so this has been the hardest ordered the closure of Venezuela’s border ment founded by Venezuela’s late leader decision I have ever had to take, but I have to be honest and the with Brazil “until further notice” amid a Hugo Chavez, who appointed Maduro as truth is that I have become ashamed of the Labour Party under tense standoff with the United States- his successor. Jeremy Corbyn.” backed opposition leader, Juan Guaido, Maduro warns U.S. against Labour has been dogged by allegations the party has become over allowing in humanitarian aid. aggression, says Venezuela possesses hostile to Jews under Corbyn, a long-time supporter of Palestinian The border with Brazil would be “com- advanced weapons rights and critic of the Israeli government, despite him repeatedly pletely and absolutely” closed from 8pm Separately, Maduro warned the U.S. stating anti-Semitism has no place in the party. (00:00 GMT) onwards, Maduro said in a against carrying out the threat of military A Labour spokesman said the party regretted that Austin had televised address on Thursday. action in Venezuela, saying the country’s decided to leave. “He was elected as a Labour Member of Parliament The embattled leader said he was also armed forces are in possession of advanced and so the democratic thing is to resign his seat and let the people considering a “total closure of the border weaponry supplied by Russia and China, of Dudley decide who should represent them,” he said. with Colombia”, where he has already or- and stand fully ready to face any act of Austin said he was not joining eight other former Labour MPs dered the military to barricade a major aggression with the help of millions of and three Conservatives who this week formed the centrist Inde- border bridge to prevent aid from entering paramilitaries. pendent Group. the country from the Colombian border In an interview with Iran’s Spanish-lan- The Conservative rebels cited opposition to what they see as their town of Cucuta where supplies are being guage Hispan TV, Maduro said Caracas takes party’s increasingly hardline euro skepticism for their departures, stockpiled, most of it from the United States. Washington’s military threats seriously and while the Labour MPs blamed quitting on both its Brexit policy and Calling the aid a “provocation” and a is already making preparations “to protect its anti-Semitism issues. “child’s game”, Maduro suggested it was our borders and territorial integrity.” The group hopes to gain members from disgruntled pro-Eu- a precursor to a U.S. military intervention Maduro rejected the possibility of the ropeans in both Labour and Conservative parties and forge a new in the oil-rich, but economically crippled military turning against the Venezuelan force at the center of British politics. Latin American country. government and said “our armed forces They oppose the Conservative government’s determination to “[The U.S.] aimed to generate a huge act in unison when it comes to morality, take Britain out of the European Union on March 29, even if there national mess, but they didn’t succeed. The doctrine and strategy. They abide by the is no divorce deal in place. country wants peace,” he said, surrounded arriving from the Dutch Caribbean islands. Venezuela, and then if it causes violence and Constitution.” A Labour legislator since 2005 and a former government min- by members of the military. Some have described the aid effort as clashes, it will have serious consequences. Elsewhere in the interview, the Vene- ister, Austin supports Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal Venezuela has already closed its mar- a publicity stunt, rather than one to help This is not something anyone wants to see,” zuelan head of state slammed Washington and is not in favour of holding a second referendum on the issue. itime border with the Dutch Caribbean the Venezuelan people. Geng said. for slapping sanctions on the country’s (Source: agencies) islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire, Moreover, Maduro has ordered a “China opposes military intervention national petroleum company, PDVSA, in after Curacao’s government said it would shipment of thousands of food boxes to in Venezuela, and opposes any actions a bid to speed up the exit of the elected help store aid. be distributed to Venezuelans along the causing tensions or even unrest,” he said. government, which relies heavily on crude In a decree, the Venezuelan military also Colombian border. Both Russia and China support President exports for its revenues. The bans have Turkey orders arrest of 295 said it was banning vessels from sailing out Food Minister Luis Medina Ramirez Maduro, while the U.S. and its allies back been designed to funnel income from the of Venezuela’s ports until Sunday to avoid said on Twitter that 20,600 boxes of food Guaido who has declared himself Venezuela’s country’s largest revenue generator into military personnel actions by “criminal” groups. from the government’s long-running sub- interim president and received recognition the hands of Guaido. Military intervention doesn’t sidized food distribution program left for from the West. On Friday, Venezuela’s In- Maduro said the oil sanctions “will be to Turkey ordered the arrest of 295 serving military personnel on Friday, make sense: Brazil the Colombian border area from the port dustry Minister Tareck El Aissami was to the detriment of the United States itself,” the prosecutor’s office said, accusing them of links to the network Despite Maduro’s announcement, the of La Guaira. meet Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri because the Americans will have to buy of the United States-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says Brazilian government said it will go ahead A video posted on the minister’s account Borisov in Moscow, Interfax news agency lower-quality oil at a higher price from orchestrated a 2016 attempted coup. Those facing detention in- with the airlifting of aid, and stockpile non- showed 11 container trucks exiting the port reported. other parts of the world. cluded three colonels, eight majors and 10 lieutenants, with around perishable food and medicine in the border near Caracas. Maduro, accompanied by top military The sanctions, he added, “would cause half of the suspects being in the army and the remainder in other town of Pacaraima. Venezuela’s military, which has remained commanders on Thursday, said the ad- certain problems for us, but we will overcome military forces including the navy and air force, the statement said. Hamilton Mourao, Brazil’s vice pres- loyal to the president, said on Wednesday ministration of the U.S. President Donald these conditions. Be sure that Venezuela The prosecutor’s office said police launched simultaneous arrest ident, told Al Jazeera Brazilian officials that it was on alert at the country’s frontiers. Trump “aimed to generate a huge national will sell its oil in the international markets operations at 1:00 a.m. (2200 GMT) under an investigation into will not “trespass the border”. “The armed forces will remain deployed mess, but they didn’t succeed.” and we will receive the income in time.” pay phone calls between suspected Gulen operatives. It was not “We can put supplies on the border and and on alert... to avoid any violations of Maduro has said what Washington and Maduro also blasted Trump for adopt- clear how many suspects have been detained so far. if the Venezuelans want it, they can come territorial integrity,” said Defense Minister the Venezuelan opposition call a humani- ing an “extremist, unwise and improper” (Source: Reuters) and get it,” he said. Vladimir Padrino. tarian crisis “is nothing but a cover-up for position against Venezuela. Elsewhere, Brazil Vice President Mourao The military also reaffirmed its support military plans of the Trump government.” America’s president wants to bring Ven- said a possible U.S. military intervention for Maduro after Trump threatened it to The U.S. has threatened several times to ezuela to its knees, said Maduro, adding against the oil-rich nation “wouldn’t make abandon the president or face dire conse- take military action against Venezuela to that his main concern is not “democracy” sense,” adding that Venezuela’s border clo- quences. The defense minister, appearing topple the elected government of Maduro or “humanitarian crisis,” but he has an eye Zarif says INSTEX sure “doesn’t signify an act of aggression.” alongside senior officers, said any attempt amid anti-government protests. on the country’s wealth and rich energy He also said Caracas “has the right to to impose a new government would have He warned that Trump and Colombi- resources. is a prerequisite for whatever it wants on its side of the border.” to be done over “our dead bodies.” an President Iv?n Duque were amassing The Venezuelan president went on to A spokesman for far-right President Jair Russia, China back Maduro as military troops on the border of Colombia say, “The era for coups d’état and invasion… implementation of European Bolsonaro said the border closure would not U.S.-led showdown nears for a possible military invasion against his must come to an end. The 19th and 20th cause “frictions” between the neighbors. Meantime, China and Russia are rallying country. centuries are over. The current century is promises Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader behind Venezuela, warning against military Maduro also announced this week that no time for neo-imperialism and slavery.” Guaido set out on Thursday to personally intervention in the Latin American country 300 tons of Russian humanitarian aid would He also denounced the European Union’s 1 “We are ready to live in this situation, because we do not collect the U.S.-supplied food and medicine which is facing a showdown on Saturday be legally delivered to the international bias in favor of the Venezuelan opposi- want to ask too much from the partners in Europe. But INSTEX stockpiled in Colombia. when the opposition plans to bring in a airport of Caracas. tion, saying the 28-nation bloc is making has not been implemented yet, secondly its implementation takes Guaido has set a Saturday deadline for U.S. “aid” package. Opposition leaders on Wednesday offered a “fundamental mistake” in dealing with nine months. And third, there must be money in there. Money the aid to be allowed into Venezuela. He China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday an olive branch in a dramatic climb-down the Latin American state. will only be there when there is trade, oil deals and investment said he aims to rally a million volunteers the “so-called aid” should not be forced from their initial pledge to topple Maduro, Europe only “listens to the rightist (op- in Iran,” he added. to start bringing to those in need. into Venezuela, lest it cause violence. A proposing a transitional government which position) and believes all their lies,” Maduro In May 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled “Confirmed - it’s rolling,” a spokesman Venezuelan minister also planned to meet includes the current administration. added, advising the European countries to Washington out of the JCPOA and ordered reimposition of sanc- for Guaido said on Thursday, referring to the Russian leaders in Moscow later in the day. They said they maintain contact with “lend an ear to the truth.” tions against Iran. The first round of sanctions went into force on collection operation announced by Guaido. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman government officials and military officers The Union blindly follows the U.S. in its August 6 and the second round, which targets Iran’s oil exports Guaido still has not provided details on Geng Shuang said the Venezuelan govern- but keep such talks confidential to avoid aggressive approach towards Venezuela, said and banks, were snapped back on November 4. how the aid could come in. Opposition fig- ment has “remained calm and exercised affecting those involved. the president, warning that the Europeans After months of delay on January 31, France, Germany and ures have suggested forming human chains restraint,” effectively preventing large- “This transition requires a large national will have blood on their hands if Venezuela Britain finally announced the creation of INSTEX, a special across the land borders to pass packages scale clashes. agreement between the country’s political comes under attack “as it happened in Iraq, purpose vehicle aimed at facilitating legitimate trade between from person to person and fleets of boats “If so-called aid material is forced into forces,” said Edgar Zambrano, vice president Libya and Syria.” European economic operators and Iran. The European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt China’s shadow looms large over second has said INSTEX will support legitimate European trade with Iran. Trump-Kim summit Sources: Elements of Trump All eyes were on Singapore in June last year as a jumbo first-known diplomatic foray overseas with a visit to the admin pushing to save Iran jet carrying Kim Jong Un landed on the tarmac of the Chinese capital in March 2018, all of which came before and city-state’s Changi airport, days before the North Korean after talks with either Trump or the South Korean President deal, outlast Trump leader’s landmark summit with the United States Pres- Moon Jae-in. ident Donald Trump. China is North Korea’s largest economic trading partner. Officials inside the Trump administration have been pursuing As Kim took his first steps onto Singaporean soil, having Beijing’s support for Pyongyang dates back to the Korean War policies that would leave large parts of the nuclear deal with Iran completed his longest trip abroad as head of state, those (1950-1953) when Chinese troops were sent to the Korean in place, including limiting the amount of pressure placed on watching noted that he hadn’t disembarked from a North Peninsula to aid the North’s forces. Former Chinese leader Tehran through financial and oil sanctions, according to mul- Korean airline - but a Chinese one. Mao Zedong once described the relationship between the tiple sources who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon about Beijing’s loan of the Air China 747 carrier made logistical two countries as “close as lips and teeth”. a growing inter-agency battle. sense. It provided Kim with a far more reliable mode of But these brotherly ties began to deteriorate when North These policies, which include waivers enabling Iran’s continued transport for the 4,800km trip to Singapore than his own Korea began testing its missiles in 2006, before hitting fur- oil production as well as its access to the global economy, have decades-old official aircraft. ther lows in 2017 after Pyongyang began ramping up its generated much tension with other parts of the Trump admin- The move was symbolic besides being practical. Although nuclear tests. istration known to favor a more hardline approach. It also has China - North Korea’s main ally - was not physically present Pyongyang, in turn, sees close ties with Beijing as crucial riled Iran hawks on Capitol Hill who are currently working on at the Singapore meeting aimed at reviving stalled nuclear to its economic development. Chinese support also gives Kim various sanctions packages to pressure Iran. talks, it played a key role. a certain amount of leverage as he negotiates the lifting of The efforts by some within the administration to preserve And now, with another summit between the United States international sanctions. the nuclear deal and keep it on life support during the Trump and North Korea set to take place at the end of this month Though China began imposing United Nations sanctions handshake. Only months before, such a moment seemed presidency has set the stage for a coming battle over U.S. policies in Vietnam, Beijing has been just as influential. on North Korea in 2017, it has been careful to maintain unthinkable - North Korea had intensified its nuclear to cripple the Iranian economy. When Kim arrived in Beijing on a bulletproof train at an economic lifeline for North Korea. Beijing remains the testing, prompting the U.S. president to threaten to It has become increasingly clear in recent months that some the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, country’s main source of food and energy. rain down “fire and fury”. elements of the Trump administration have used back-channel speculation over a second, upcoming meeting with Trump When Kim and Trump met on June 12, 2018, in what But although the Singapore meeting was visually spec- talks with the Europeans and other allies aimed at ensuring the was mounting. was the first encounter between a North Korean leader tacular, it contained few details, resulting in little tangible nuclear deal remains in place, despite the president’s efforts The trip marked the once-reclusive North Korean lead- and a sitting U.S. president, millions of people around progress on the denuclearization process. otherwise, sources told the Free Beacon. er’s fourth summit with Xi in the past year, including his the world stopped to watch the two leaders’ historic (Source: Al Jazeera) (Source: The Washington Free Beacon) II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY 44 ADVERTISEMENTSECONOMY FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 23, 20192018

STOCK MARKET Iraq to import TEDPIX 159489.5 IFX 1990 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir Iranian energy

CURRENCIES avoiding U.S. USD 42,000 rials EUR 47,667 rials GBP 54,798 rials dollar: Iraqi official AED 11,437 rials Source: cbi.ir 1 “These are American sanctions under economic pressure. and we have the right to protect our Taking Iran’s energy market in the national interests,” Mustafa said. “We region has been Trump’s top agenda in tell them always: we are not part of your order to succeed in his plans. policies in the region. The Americans Consequently, the U.S. has offering the the head of Iraqi state-run South Gas Co. importing gas from Iran. We need at least COMMODITIES are well aware of this -- it isn’t news for customers of Iranian gas attractive offers (SGC), told reporters that Iraq needed at 24 months to operate new gas projects Brent $67.78/b them”, he added. in order to lure them away from Iran. least two years to boost the country’s gas and start production”, the official said. production to stop importing Iranian gas Meanwhile, Iran’s Oil Ministry, WTI $57.71/b After Trump withdrew from Iran’s To this end, the United States has even nuclear deal in November, the U.S. announced that it will provide facilities used to feed its power stations. National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) OPEC Basket $65.97/b government and its allies have been for the establishment of LNG complexes in “Iraq’s current production of gas is and Central Bank of Iran (CBI) are working putting all their efforts together to isolate Iraq to supply the country’s power plants. not enough to meet our power stations’ on ways for receiving payments from the Gold $1,323.95/oz Iran and make the Islamic country bend But in December, Hayan Abdul Ghani, demand and therefore we are still importers of Iranian gas during sanctions. Silver $15.88/oz Platinium $835.35 oz Minerals, mining exports account for Russia’s biggest automaker AvtoVaz Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com 21% of non-oil exports in 10 months negotiating to make cars in Iran NEWS IN BRIEF ECONOMY TEHRAN — Minerals Major Russian car producer AvtoVaz is in deskand mining exports talks with Tehran over the sale and assembly accounted for 21 percent of Iran’s non-oil of its cars there, Viktor Kladov, the director Above 120 exports in terms of value during the first of international cooperation and regional companies ten months of the current Iranian calendar policy at Russia’s state corporation Rostec, year (March 21, 2018 – January 20, 2019), has said. attending intl. IRNA reported on Friday according to the “Avtovaz has been assembling its cars in jewelry expo in data released by the Islamic Republic of Egypt,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Tehran Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). the Aero India 2019 exhibition on Wednesday. Also as reported, exports from this “Negotiations are underway with a ECONOMY TEHRAN — The 11th International sector constitute 48 percent of the ten- number of other countries, such as Iran,” he deskExhibition of Gold, Silver, Jewelry, Watch month non-oil exports in terms of weight. said, adding: “I mean both the sales and the and Related Industries is the host for more than 120 domestic Iran exported $7.48 billion worth of assembling.” and foreign companies at Tehran Permanent International minerals and mining related products predicted to exceed nine million tons Lada cars, which are manufactured by was the Lada 4x4. Fairground from February 21 to 24, 2019, IRIB reported. during the first ten months of the current by the yearend. AvtoVAZ, have recently been named among The largest car manufacturer in Russia The attending companies are showcasing their latest products Iranian calendar year. The worth of Iran’s minerals and the world’s top 50 best-selling brands by and Eastern Europe, AvtoVaz produces nearly and equipment in the event. The main part of exports from this mining exports stood at $9 billion in analytical agency Focus2move. one million vehicles a year. It already has According to the Head of Iran’s Union of Gold, Silver, Jewelry sector came from the steel chain; as $3.46 the past Iranian calendar year (ended Export sales of the Lada brand grew by a stable market share in CIS countries and and Precious Stones Hojjat Shafahi, the exhibition seeks to billion of steel and related products were on March 20, 2018). 57 percent, to 38,050 cars last year. The cars also exports cars to Germany, Iran, Syria, introduce Iran’s latest products and achievement to the world exported, indicating 24 percent rise from Iran is one of the top 10 mineral-rich were sold in 34 countries, including Turkey, Egypt, and Hungary as well as making domestic producers familiar with destination the figure of the same period of time in countries where 68 types of minerals Tunisia, Chile and Cuba, according to Avtovaz AvtoVAZ intends to expand to the Czech markets and improving their competitiveness. It also tries to the past year. have been identified so far, including sales & marketing vice-president Jan Ptacek. Republic, Mongolia, and South-East Asia. The encourage exports and services of domestic jewelry sector. Weight of steel chain products the world’s largest deposits of copper, He said that for the first time in 2018, the Russian carmaker recently started exporting exported during the mentioned time zinc and iron ore, which are tempting Lada Vesta became the leader in export sales vehicles to China and the United Arab Emi IMIDRO to span stood at 7.5 million tons which is international investors. (30 percent of sales), whereas previously it rates. (Source: RT) renovate 5,000 economic units Electricity generated in next year from renewables to

ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iranian Mines and Mining come into next year’s deskIndustries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) intends to renovate 5,000 economic export basket units using 100 trillion rials (about $2.38 billion) of investment ENERGY TEHRAN – Iran plans to during the next Iranian calendar year 1398 (starting March deskdiversify its energy exports in 21, 2019), the public relations department of the organization the next Iranian calendar year (begins on March 21, announced. 2019), adding electricity generated from renewable First Announcement IN THE NAME OF GOD As well as renovating economic units, reviving small mines sources to the export backset, IRIB reported on and expansion of exploitation activities stand among the top Thursday quoting an energy official. ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BROADCASTING priorities of IMIDRO in the next Iranian year. According to Seyed Mohammad Sadeqzadeh, IMIDRO also plans to ease its domestic and foreign trade the head of Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy activities, facilitate international trade, improve competitiveness, Efficiency Organization (known as SATBA), currently and make exported goods variable in the next year. there are 700 megawatts (MW) capacity of renewable INTERNATIONAL TENDER NO. 97-11/202 power plants installed across the country. Tender Holder: Underlining the country’s great potential for Over 19,600 increasing its renewable output, the official noted ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BROADCASTING (IRIB) villages supplied that the figure will exceed 1000MW by the end of with drinkable the current Iranian year. Subject of Two-Stage Tender: Earlier in August 2018, Sadeqzadeh said that Purchasing HEVC Headend Equipment according to the tender documents water through the country’s total capacity of generating electricity from renewable resources will reach 1100 MW by pipelines the end of the current Iranian calendar year. Deadline of Receiving Documents: ENERGY TEHRAN – Director General of the Bureau Overall, in the next five years, Iran is aiming As of publishing second announcement of advertisement latest by the business hour dated on Wednesday deskfor Planning at Iran’s Water and Wastewater for a 5,000 MW increase in renewable capacity to Engineering Company said currently over 19,600 villages across meet growing domestic demand and expand its February 27, 2019. the country are being supplied with sustainable drinking water presence in the regional electricity market. through pipelines. “With the construction of 1,020 water supply facilities in Place of Receiving Documents: the rural areas across the country, there are now over 19,600 Saudi Arabia strikes $10 Secretariat of Tenders’ Commission, Technical Purchasing (KALA) Dept., Media Technology and villages having sustainable drinking water.” Amirhossein Development Deputy Office, Bldg. No. 2, IRIB, Jam-e Jam St., Vali-e Asr Ave., Tehran Raghimi told IRIB on Thursday. billion China deal, talks “Of course due to severe drought in some areas, a number of villages still require mobile water supply.” he added. de-radicalization with Xi Type and Amount of Guarantee for Participating in Tender: According to the official, currently, 74 percent of the country’s rural areas are equipped with mobile water facilities. Audi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman The amount of USD 39,900 which should be in the form of extendable bank guarantee cemented a $10 billion deal for a refining and petrochemical complex in China on Friday, meeting Time and Place of Delivering Priced Bid: Chinese President Xi Jinping who urged joint German economy narrowly efforts to counter extremism and terror. The sealed A, B & C packages/envelopes should be submitted within one main envelope marked with The Saudi delegation, including top executives tender number no later than 15 p.m. on Monday April 15, 2019 and submitted to the Secretariat of avoids recession from state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco, arrived on Thursday on an Asia tour that has Commission of Tenders. The German economy avoided recession by the skin of its already seen the kingdom pledge investment of teeth in the final quarter of last year, propped up by a pickup $20 billion in Pakistan and seek to make additional Time and Place of Opening Envelopes in government spending and booming construction. investments in India’s refining industry. The Federal Statistical Office on Friday confirmed its “China is a good friend and partner to Saudi The date of opening envelopes A&B is at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday April 17, 2019 in the office of Vice preliminary inflation estimate from Feb. 14, but provided Arabia,” President Xi Jinping told the crown prince President of IRIB Planning and Financial Resources and opening of envelope C will be after technical additional details about the drivers of growth. in front of reporters. evaluation. Germany›s gross domestic product--the broadest measure “The special nature of our bilateral relationship of goods and services produced in an economy--stagnated reflects the efforts you have made,” added Xi, who It should be noted that bidders should hold license from the authorized bodies. in the fourth quarter, which translates into an annualized has made stepping up China’s presence in the growth rate of 0.1%. In the three months through September, Middle East a key foreign policy objective, despite the economy contracted by 0.8% in annualized terms. its traditional low-key role there. For more information, please contact the following phone numbers: 0098-21-22166313 “Positive impulses in a quarter-to-quarter comparison The crown prince said Saudi Arabia’s relations It is obvious that cost of publishing two advertisements shall be borne by the winner of tender. came from the domestic economy,” it said. with China dated back “a very long time in the past”. Illustrating the trend, government consumption surged “In the hundreds, even thousands, of years, the Public Relations Dept. of IRIB 1.6% from the third quarter, while investments in construction interactions between the sides have been friendly. jumped by 1.3%. Over such a long period of exchanges with China, The development in net trade, however, was growth-neutral we have never experienced any problems with as exports and imports rose by 0.7% respectively. China,” he said. (Source: The MarketWach) (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 23, 2019 ENERGY 5

Oil prices firm on trade hopes, but European oil demand is shockingly weak record U.S. output drags One of the unexpectedly soft spots in global oil demand recently has been in Europe. To be sure, Europe was never expected to be a major driver Oil prices were firm on Friday, supported That means U.S. crude output has soared of oil demand growth. Consumption has been mostly flat for by OPEC’s ongoing supply cuts and hopes by almost 2.5 million bpd since the start of a long time. However, demand has actually declined year-on- that Washington and Beijing may soon end 2018, and by a whopping 5 million bpd since year in the past few months, which suggests a slowdown in the their trade dispute. 2013. America is the only country to ever European economy. Despite this, prices remained just below reach 12 million bpd of production. Most glaringly, demand in Germany has fallen significantly. 2019 peaks reached earlier this week as U.S. As output surges, U.S. oil stocks are also According to Standard Chartered, demand in Germany fell by crude oil production hit a record 12 million rising. 302,000 bpd in December compared to a year earlier. That was barrels per day (bpd) and its exports also U.S. commercial crude oil inventories rose the tenth consecutive month of an annual decline in consumption surged. by 3.7 million barrels to 454.5 million barrels in excess of 150,000 bpd. International Brent crude futures were in the week ended Feb. 15, the EIA said. In November, Germany seemed to be the only source of fra- at $67.18 per barrel at 0746 GMT, 11 cents Analysts say U.S. output will rise further gility. But in December, the weakness popped up in many more above their last close, but below $67.38 per and that oil firms will export more oil to sell European countries. According to Standard Chartered, in De- barrel reached earlier this week. off surplus stocks. cember, year-on-year declines in consumption were reported in: U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) “We see total U.S. crude production hit- France (-124,000 bpd) crude oil futures were at $57.15 per barrel, ting 13 million bpd by year-end, with 2019 Italy (-38,000 bpd) up 19 cents, but below this week’s $57.55 averaging 12.5 million bpd,” U.S. bank Citi The UK (-36,000 bpd) per barrel 2019 high. said following the release of the EIA report. The Netherlands (-85,000 bpd) Traders said prices were lifted from ear- With U.S. supply surging, Goldman Sachs Overall, in OECD Europe, demand plunged by a staggering lier drops by hopes that Washington and said it expected non-OPEC supply to grow by 755,000 bpd in December. Standard Chartered argues that the Beijing could resolve their trade disputes, 1.9 million bpd this year, more than offsetting main threat to global oil demand (and oil prices) comes from which have dented global economic growth, the OPEC cuts. Europe, not China. before a March 1 deadline, during negotia- That means much will depend on demand, But China, too, is a source of demand weakness. More than tions this week. which Goldman said it expected to grow by a handful of metrics point to an economic slowdown, including Prices have also been supported by supply 1.4 million bpd this year. output by 1.2 million bpd to prevent a large At least in part offsetting that is surging negative PMI numbers, a decline in car sales, and slowing imports cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Given the supply and demand picture, supply overhang from growing. U.S. crude oil production, which reached 12 and exports. The outcome of the U.S.-China trade negotiations Exporting Countries (OPEC). Goldman said “we expect $60-$65 per barrel Goldman Sachs said in a note that it ex- million bpd for the first time last week, the will go a long way to deciding what happens next. For now, the OPEC and some non-affiliated producers Brent prices, on average, in 2019 and 2020.” pects OPEC output to average 31.1 million Energy Information Administration (EIA) evidence seems to suggest that both the American and Chinese such as Russia agreed late last year to cut (Source: Reuters) bpd in 2019, down from 31.9 million bpd. said on Thursday. governments are eager to make a deal. However, major oil forecasters have had to slightly lower their demand estimates for this year after previously holding them West African crude oil faces rising Saudi Arabia seeks stronger commitment steady. OPEC lowered its estimate by 50,000 bpd, while the EIA made a similar revision. The big question is if these changes were competition from U.S. crude heading East from Nigeria on OPEC oil cuts one-offs or the start of more downgrades. Standard Chartered puts out a weekly “bull-bear index,” which Rising imports of U.S. crude oil into Asia Saudi Arabia has demanded greater ad- offers a gauge on market sentiment. The latest reading was a in the past few months will bring stronger herence to oil production cuts by Nigeria -49.1, a huge swing from the week before and the most negative competition in the months ahead for West in a bid to balance global oil markets and reading since December. “The main source of weakness came African crudes, traders said. shore up prices, a Nigerian government from the implied demand readings, which were lower w/w for Market sources highlighted the March statement said late Wednesday. all seven main product groupings and lower than the average of loading program for Nigeria. Nigerian crude The kingdom had sent Ahmad Qattan, February 2018 for all products except propane,” the investment has had a difficult time clearing for several Minister of State for African Affairs and bank concluded. weeks, as offer levels were too high to attract Special Envoy of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Even assuming demand estimates remain mostly unchanged, buying interest from European refineries to Abuja to meet with Nigeria’s President they stand in contrast to the ongoing upward revisions to supply which have been suffering from poor re- All Angolan grades across the light to Muhammadu Buhari, to press Nigeria on to getting quickly into position to meet – specifically, U.S. shale growth. The EIA came out with a whop- finery margins on naphtha and gasoline. the heavy spectrum, have been performing compliance with the current OPEC/non- their commitment through six months,” ping revision of 300,000 bpd to U.S. supply growth for 2019, “What is more worrying is a structural extremely well in the March trading cycle as OPEC agreement. Falih added. expecting an average of 12.4 million barrels per day. change in supply of U.S. crude to Asia. a result of increased buying from Chinese Buhari said he assured the Saudi envoy Nigeria’s compliance with the cuts has In a separate report – the Drilling Productivity Report – the It seems like more Asian buyers are in- refiners prior to Chinese New Year, as well that even though it was a difficult decision started off on a weak note. Africa’s largest EIA expects the U.S. to add another 84,000 bpd in March com- creasingly terming U.S. crude,” a crude as newly allocated import quotas for Chi- for Nigeria to cut output, it would cooper- crude producer pumped 1.79 million bpd pared to February, another massive jump in output. The gains are oil trader said. nese teapot refineries and a narrow EFS. ate and step up its compliance to the cuts. in January, according to an average of the led by the Permian basin (+43,000 bpd), with smaller additions The quick price correction of Nigerian However, trading sources have increas- Buhari said Nigeria, which is still six secondary sources that OPEC uses to from elsewhere. grades and narrow Brent-Dubai Exchange ingly said the April trading cycle will look struggling to get its oil production back gauge production. This is well above its Shaky demand combined with higher-than-expected produc- of Futures for Swaps spread has aided sev- different. Some traders said April will only to levels of 2.2 million bpd, would wish quota of 1.69 million bpd. tion from U.S. shale presents serious downside risks to the oil eral Nigerian grades such an Agbami, Qua be supportive for selected Angolan crudes that there was no need for output cuts Ministry officials insist some of the market. “The upswing in oil prices appears to have ended for Iboe and Akpo to find homes in Southeast going into China, as Eastern buyers will be but acknowledged there was need to country’s crude should be categorized as now. It seems that the sharp rise in oil production in the US is Asia. However, market sources have said more focused on which grades are more support oil prices. condensate, which is not subject to pro- having a slowing effect after all,” Commerzbank wrote in a note the narrow EFS will not be enough to buoy desired at home. “I have listened carefully to the message. duction limits. on Wednesday. the April program. “Heavy grades will be supportive, but I will speak with [Nigeria’s oil minister The West African country is expected “Production at the Permian Basin, the largest shale play, is “Looking at the WTI/Dubai and the WTI/ light ones such as Cabinda and Girassol Emmanuel Kachikwu], I will call for the to see its crude production capacity rise by set to exceed 4 million barrels per day for the first time in March. Brent spreads, WAF will have to compete will be under pressure,” a trader said. latest production figures. I know that it almost 10% this year following the startup As such, this shale play alone significantly exceeds the amounts with U.S. grades going to the East,” one Such a development would put light- is in our interest to listen,” Buhari said. of the 200,000 bpd offshore Egina field produced by the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Kuwait. Only said. “Arbitrage economics remain highly er Angolan grades under pressure due to Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Khalid right at the end of last year. five countries produce more oil than the Permian Basin, excluding favorable for more U.S. crude purchases. heightening competition from U.S. barrels, al-Falih had said earlier on Wednesday Nigeria’s 2019 budget submitted to par- the U.S.,” Commerzbank noted. The latest OPEC cut seems to be keeping which are prices on a heavier discount com- that Saudi Arabia had received pledges of liament by President Buhari last December While these gains are largely baked in at this point, the U.S. the Dubai price complex relatively expen- pared to grades priced against Dated Brent. commitment from OPEC members whose was based on an oil output benchmark of shale complex still has some glaring problems. Shale companies sive,” a senior official at Seoul-based Korea According to S&P Global Platts trade production was still above their quota under 2.3 million bpd as the government sought are not uniformly profitable – in fact, many are not profitable at Petroleum Association said. flow software cFlow and shipping reports the latest production cut deal, which came to increase revenue. all. Investors are increasingly demanding production restraint in Several sources have pointed to a similar for January-loading cargoes, 16 VLCCs were into effect from January 1. The country’s crude production average favor of shareholder returns. That still could slow development. picture for some of the lighter Angolan seen carrying U.S. crude from the U.S. Gulf “I have been speaking to many ministers 1.86 million bpd last year, according to Meanwhile, if the drilling treadmill ever slows down, growth grades such as Girassol, Kissanje and Coast to Eastern destinations. and those who have been slow in achieving data from S&P Global Platts. will take a hit. The production frenzy of the last few years means Cabinda. (Source: Platts) their targets in January have all committed (Source: Platts) that the legacy decline rate – the losses from existing wells already online – has also exploded. In March, the Permian is expected to lose 249,000 bpd in declines from legacy wells, a figure that has doubled since the start of 2018. To be sure, there is enough Oil traders bet on Saudi Arabia and White House lifting prices new output (+292,000 bpd) to ensure a net gain of 43,000 bpd, but the drilling treadmill has accelerated significantly. As such, Oil traders are becoming very bullish on the outlook for has remained close to flat and major U.S. equity indices when the Permian hits a rough patch, so will production. prices, betting that Saudi Arabia will do whatever it takes have moved sideways. However, this may be a problem for another day. The drilling to tighten the market even if consumption growth slows, Traders seem increasingly confident Saudi Arabia’s output frenzy continues. helped by U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela. cut coupled with U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela will (Source: oilprice.com) Brent’s calendar spread for the second half of 2019 has push the market into deficit, especially in the second half, surged into a backwardation of 90 cents per barrel, the when consumption is normally higher. strongest for more than three months and a huge swing The market is expected to be undersupplied despite a from a 70 cent contango near the end of last year. slowdown in consumption growth this year and poor com- For many traders, spreads rather than spot prices are a pliance with the production agreement by other countries Oil and gas groups set to better indicator of expected balance between production and in the enlarged OPEC+ group of exporters. revive spending on new consumption (“Price relations between July and September In effect, hedge fund managers are gambling on Saudi Wheat Futures at Chicago”, Working, 1933). Arabia’s determination to tighten the market and lift prices production Backwardation implies many traders expect the market plus a relatively tough sanctions policy from the White House to be undersupplied in the second half of the year with a to counteract weakness from other sources. Oil and gas companies are set for a surge in spending on new significant drawdown in global inventories of crude and fuels. If the U.S. economy slows and the Federal Reserve re- production this year, with forecasts pointing to a near trebling The current swing to backwardation is similar to previous Position-building has been very similar to previous epi- sponds by trimming interest rates, the resulting decline in in volume approved for development as higher crude prices en- shifts in market structure when OPEC and its allies reduced sodes, but total positions are still well below previous peaks of the dollar would also be supportive for oil prices, provided courage a loosening of purse strings. production in 2017 and the United States re-imposed sanc- 500-600 million barrels, suggesting it could still have some the slowdown is not too deep or too long. Consultancy Rystad Energy said that excluding U.S. shale oil tions on Iran in 2018. way to run. Like other financial traders, hedge funds and The investment narrative is drawing strong interest from and gas it expected more than 46bn barrels of oil equivalent to Both of those shifts were accelerated and amplified by other money managers tend to concentrate their positions fund buyers even as investors remain more neutral in other be given the green light, up from 17.5bn bo/e in 2018. significant position-building in crude oil by hedge fund in nearby futures contracts where there is more liquidity. asset classes. The principal risks are a deeper and more pro- While the rise partly reflects a delay in project approvals late last managers, and something similar is likely in 2019. Hedge fund buying is therefore lifting the price of nearby longed slowdown in global growth; a more dovish approach year as the oil price dropped 40 percent, it also shows a growing Hedge funds and other money managers have been net contracts and accelerating the shift into backwardation (just to sanctions from the White House; or renewed criticism appetite to invest in gas and offshore oil projects. buyers of Brent crude futures and options in nine of the as fund selling depressed nearby contracts and accelerated about rising prices from the U.S. president. After the energy sector downturn started in 2014, big oil and last 10 weeks with net purchases equivalent to 130 million the shift to contango in the fourth quarter). The White House has so far been relatively quiet about gas companies reined in capital spending and cut costs. But even barrels (tmsnrt.rs/2TZZN0D). Traders have become relatively bullish on oil even as they rising oil prices, but that might change if they rise above $75, as executives have promised to maintain their disciplined ap- Fund managers have almost doubled their bullish posi- maintain a more defensive position in equities and bonds, the level that provoked a flurry of presidential tweets in 2018. proach, they are again focusing on growth. tion in Brent to 266 million barrels, up from just 136 million suggesting oil prices are being lifted by idiosyncratic factors. Until then, oil traders seem convinced the oil market “Several years of trimming the fat from project economics, barrels in early December, according to position records Brent has continued to march steadily into deeper back- will continue to tighten. coupled with a sturdier price outlook, has helped to convince published by ICE Futures Europe. wardation even as the benchmark U.S. Treasury yield curve (Source: Reuters) operators to sanction long-delayed projects,” said Readul Islam, analyst at Rystad. The consultancy said rising demand for cleaner fuels and fears of a liquefied natural gas shortage in coming years should Qatar well-positioned to meet Asian LNG demand, minister says spur decisions on projects in Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Russia. Qatar is ready to further boost investment in the world will shift significantly from fossil countries." the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Qatar can- These include Qatar Petroleum with its North Field expansion liquefied natural gas production, beyond its fuels to renewables in the near future. The minister stressed the importance that celed LNG shipments to other destinations, plans, Russia’s Novatek with its Arctic LNG 2 project and the current plan to increase annual capacity to "Asia is the biggest market for LNG, or fuels Qatar places on relations with Japan, which diverting them instead to Japan and selling Anadarko-operated Mozambique LNG project. 110 million tons by 2024, according to Energy in general, because that is where [economies has paved the way for LNG imports. "Japan in them at contract prices, despite gas prices Huge expansion projects at Saudi Arabia’s Marjan and Zuluf Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi. are growing], and that is where the need particular has a very special place in our heart, being "very high"at the time. oilfields are due to be approved this year. Rystad said forecast In an interview with Nikkei, Qatar›s energy is,"al-Kaabi said. "For us, the Asian market and we are looking to extend our contracts with "We wanted to show the people of Japan volumes for the Middle East alone were higher than the global czar said Asian demand for LNG will continue is a fundamental market and we have great Japanese companies,"al-Kaabi said. our respect,"he said. totals seen in each of the past three years. to grow rapidly and that he remains skeptical relationships politically with all the Asian al-Kaabi noted that in the aftermath of (Source: Nikkei) (Source: Financial Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 23, 2019 How White House efforts to sidestep Congress How the Balkans solved a Balkan problem on Saudi nuclear deal are blowing up By Katerina Kolozova The Macedonia name dispute dragged on for almost three decades, The House Oversight Committee spoke with In a statement, House Intelligence becoming the longest lasting one of its kind in recent history. Donald Trump administration whistleblowers Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said “the To an uninformed observer, it may have looked like a curiosity: and released a report Tuesday detailing the report raises serious questions” for Congress to Greece being so insistent that the naming of the newly formed White House’s efforts to give Congress the answer, such as: “What involvement did other country constituted a threat and Macedonia (or FYROM as it had run-around in its determination to reach a senior Administration officials, including the to be called) being equally adamant about retaining its name. civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. President, and foreign actors, particularly the By all accounts, that Macedonia was both a name of a country “The whistleblowers who came forward Saudi leadership, have in the effort to short- and of a region in Greece did not sound like a serious threat to have expressed significant concerns about circuit the legal requirements for nuclear anyone’s security or territorial integrity. The issue was easily being the potential procedural and legal violations cooperation with the U.S.? Are backchannel dismissed as the product of the intransigence of two typically connected with rushing through a plan to efforts still underway, notwithstanding the nationalistic Balkan countries. transfer nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia,” alarms raised by ethics lawyers? What is But the truth is the dispute remained unresolved for nearly 30 the report notes. “They have warned of driving this policy of subservience of American years also because the Western emissaries who were supposed conflicts of interest among top White House national security interests to the interests of to mediate it simply did not want to admit what it was all about. advisers that could implicate federal criminal Saudi Arabia?” For years, a statement on the website of the Greek Ministry of statutes.” Last week, Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Foreign Affairs (now taken down) made it very clear: the use of Why it matters Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., the name expresses claims on Greek cultural heritage, history, The report raises renewed questions reintroduced a resolution warning against and, hence, identity and this in itself constitutes “irredentism”. as to whether Trump intends to pursue a any agreement that would allow Riyadh to That is, the dispute was about history and identity, and not the Saudi nuclear deal that would allow Riyadh enrich uranium and reprocess plutonium on territory. to enrich uranium and reprocess plutonium its territory. Markey and Rep. Brad Sherman, on its territory — possible precursors to a D-Calif., have also introduced legislation that nuclear weapons program. Former national security adviser Mike Flynn would require Congress to affirmatively sign Democrats released the report exactly a off on any Saudi nuclear deal. Committee). “Mr. Harvey reportedly ignored these week after the president met with nuclear What’s next? Bipartisan backlash warnings and insisted that the decision to power developers to discuss exporting U.S. The report notes that Flynn’s successor Potential conflicts of interest aside, transfer nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia and as national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, Harvey’s insistence on moving forward with had already been made,” states the report. Jordan. The meeting was organized by IP3 eventually put the lid on IP3 International’s the proposal didn’t take into account that Lawmakers from both parties have long International — the consulting group that proposal and later ousted Harvey. However, Congress can block any nuclear agreement. opposed giving Saudi Arabia technology that first drafted the proposal in question. Former Trump fired McMaster last year and replaced Section 123 of the 1954 U.S. Atomic Energy could be used for nuclear weapons. The current national security adviser Mike Flynn, who him with John Bolton. Saudi Crown Prince Act lays out guidelines that any civil nuclear wave of anti-Saudi sentiment following the worked with IP3 International in 2016, pushed Mohammed bin Salman, for his part, has deal must adhere to — and gives Congress murder of Jamal Khashoggi has only made for the proposal at the time despite concerns said that Riyadh would also pursue a nuclear the ability to vote down any such agreement. them more hesitant to trust Riyadh. from career National Security Council (NSC) weapon if Iran does. staffers. After Flynn resigned, NSC Middle The White House told Al-Monitor last year East director Derek Harvey aggressively Lawmakers from both parties have long that the Flynn proposal was not on the table pushed forward with the plan (Harvey now opposed giving Saudi Arabia technology that but did not respond to recent queries about works for Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the whether it is once again under consideration. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipra (L) with Macedonian Prime top Republican on the House Intelligence could be used for nuclear weapons. (Source: Al Monitor) Minister Zoran Zaev This was also reflected and carried in United Nations Security Council resolution 817, which recognized what it called “former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” as an independent state in 1993. By way of recognizing a nameless state with no national identifier, the international community was basically denying it the right to national self-determination, even if it What’s left of the Qatar siege? did not intend to do so. The UNSC’s resolution corresponded demanded that Qatar should close the base. with the Balkan history of the “Macedonian question”, a By Abdel Salam Fayez The closure of Al Jazeera, meanwhile, was a red line that history of negation of the very reality of a distinct ethnic Thirteen demands or conditions were put on the table Qatar will never consider because it is a blatant interference and national identity that would be called Macedonian by by the countries imposing the siege on Qatar in order to in its domestic affairs. Al Jazeera is still operating, its most of the neighboring countries. restore relations to how they were in the past. Reflecting correspondents are in the field, none of its offices outside For years, the UN and its special envoy, Matthew Nimetz, did the authoritarian nature of the boycotting states — Saudi the besieging countries have been closed, and its employees not want to admit to this reality because it was embarrassing; Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt — Qatar was given have managed to overcome the uncertainty caused by the identity disputes were not supposed to be happening in 21st ten days to implement their demands or it would find itself threats. century Europe. outside the Persian Gulf States’ embrace. According to political logic, the activity of any country The issue would not have been solved if this simple fact Some of the conditions were political, such as reducing under siege is reduced in terms of regional issues, and officials had not been recognized and addressed in negotiations. But the level of diplomatic representation with Iran; some were limit their overseas trips. This is common during political this recognition did not come from the UN or the West; it in economic, such as Qatar should stop doing business with crises, but has been strangely absent in this siege. Indeed, fact came from the leadership of the two countries involved Iran; and some were military, such as not establishing a the tables appear to have been turned, with the number of in the dispute. Turkish military base in Qatar. The blockading countries Saudi Arabia’s opponents growing as it experiences tense Prime Ministers Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras and their also told Qatar to close Al Jazeera and other media outlets, relations with former allies. Riyadh’s latest crisis with Morocco Foreign Ministers Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kozias (until including Arabi 21 and Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. is perhaps the best evidence of this, in addition to strained Ocrtober 2018), respectively, took off the gloves of western Qatar was forced into an unenviable situation, with a very relations with Turkey, once one of its main allies in the diplomatic etiquette and addressed the issue head-on: they short time to meet the siege coalition demands. Observers region. Saudi Arabia also lost popularity in the Arab world reached a bilateral agreement Officials from Egypt, Saudi. Bahrain, UAE discuss their waited for it to capitulate or face a precarious future. due to its normalization of links with Israel. Meanwhile, that tackled identity. blockade of Qatar The reluctance Today, though, more than a year and a half after the start Qatar still has good relations with its allies in the region, The two countries had to of the siege, it is clear that Qatar has managed to pull itself may see that figure rise to 5,000 in the future. The agreement despite some hiccups here and there. There have been no recognize each other’s concerns of the West clear of the rock and the hard place between which it was may develop to include warships and fighter jets at the new changes in its positions with regard to regional crises, and in order to address them. The to face the pushed, and made great progress for a country surrounded on base, or see it turn into a naval and air logistical support the Emir of Qatar is conducting more foreign visits than Greek side - as laid out in the three sides by its self-declared enemies. None of the coalition center. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were obviously seeking to ever, as if nothing has happened. foreign ministry’s statement truth about conditions were met; all were most likely ignored. end Turkey’s military presence on their doorstep when they All along, Qatar has expressed its willingness to sit at the - was convinced the name laid the Macedonia Its diplomatic relations with Iran remain strong and trade negotiation table with its neighbors in the Persian Gulf to a claim on Greek history and name dispute is growing. The Deputy Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime end the crisis. The government in Doha has always welcomed identity. Today, though, more than Organization, Hadi Haq Shinas, offered Qatar the use of any delegation and there are positive signs suggesting an end The Macedonian side stalled its a year and a half after the Bushehr port to export and import goods. He pointed out the to the dispute with the blockading coalition, although some feared that, with the change resolution for potential to transport goods from Turkey and other countries start of the siege, it is clear are trying to keep things unstable by posting mischievous of the name of the state, the years. to Qatar using suitable shipping lines from Bushehr. tweets here and there. The siege retains its international designation of the national that Qatar has managed to The first Turkish military presence in the Persian Gulf significance but Qatar has been able to sustain growth and identity and the language since the Ottoman era came with the arrival of troops in Qatar pull itself clear of the rock development despite its severity. would be effaced. Let us note, the fear was justified: more to help train Qatari soldiers. This angered the blockading Given all of this, we must ask what’s left of the siege on than once, Nimetz’s proposals for a resolution contained and the hard place between countries. There are an estimated 3,000 Turkish troops Qatar. What, indeed, was the point of it all? naming of nationality and language. By contesting the right which it was pushed. there, although the agreement between Doha and Ankara (Source: Middle East Monitor) to a signifier, these proposals were in fact contesting the existence of a Macedonian ethnicity/nation and Macedonian language. Article 7 of the bilateral agreement between Greece and (now) North Macedonia addressed these issues by recognizing Republicans are at a critical point, they need to abandon Trump that “Macedonian” can mean two different things at the same time: for the Macedonian side, it means nationality, ethnic By Jay Caruso term damage. of government) sit back and hope the courts cent since June of 2018, according to Gallup. belonging and a South Slavic language, whereas, for the Greek This president uses executive power will do their work for them. For someone who won an electoral-vote side, it refers to the cultural heritage of Ancient Greece and the Donald Trump officially declared himself and in particular, his authority related to Others, like Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, presidency by the slimmest of margins, it legacy of the Kingdom of Phillip and Alexander of Macedon. a candidate for the GOP presidential national security to affect domestic policy, are more vocal, and criticize the president doesn’t bode well for the future. Thus, the agreement reaffirmed the principle of self- nomination in June 2015. Over the next four in a way we’ve never seen as a nation before. openly, only to face the wrath of Trump Trump continues to drive out elements of determination for the Macedonians and negotiated the years, he promised to build a wall along the Trump has managed to embroil the country and his most loyal supporters to the point the GOP which are critical to its success in inclusion of both the Slavic and Hellenic signifiers in the name. border of Mexico. Who paid for it became a in a counterproductive trade war by using many of them want him to face a primary the future. Those who are hanging on to the The fact that the two Balkan nations faced the “embarrassing” pointless exercise. Trump wanted it done. national security as his starting point. He opponent — despite the fact he’s one of the president’s current strategy and behaving truth and defied the self-censorship of political correctness to Over the last two months, however, demanded turn over most conservative members of Congress. as though it is a recipe for future success address the proverbial elephant in the room speaks volumes it developed into an “emergency.” The the author of an administration official who The more Republicans dig in to defend are kidding themselves. about their pollical acumen and bravery. president, using powers primarily reserved authored an anonymous op-ed on their Trump, the more damage they do to the The demographics in America continue to This is not a solution brokered by the European Union, for dealing with foreign policy issues (such as pages and said then-Attorney General Jeff party in the long run. The mid-term losses in shift, and until the GOP takes more seriously United States or the UN, and it’s not just a temporary ad sanctions against Russia or actions following Sessions should investigate as it fell under the House were just a start and an ominous the autopsy performed following the 2012 hoc fix to allow North Macedonia to pursue accession to the 9/11 attacks), invoked those same powers the umbrella of national security. one. Trump’s support in suburban areas, election, the short-term victories will turn NATO and the EU. to redirect monies already appropriated for On foreign policy, Trump’s approach typically areas that favor GOP candidates, into faint memories. Rather, it is a resolution of a dispute between two neighbors construction of his precious wall. Sixteen is farcical. He has no problem alienating collapsed and Republican House members Republicans could start to repair the negotiated in a way that is sensitive to their political cultures, states have filed a federal lawsuit challenging allies while heaping praise on thugs and paid the price with a loss of 40 seats. damage by voting against Trump’s latest shared history and national concerns (regardless of how the president’s decision. dictators. That’s terrible news for the future. While absurd national emergency declaration. inconceivable they may be to the West). Trump’s arrogance knows little Some GOP members of Congress who Trump and his merry band of adulators By admitting he didn’t need to take such It sets a precedent in Balkan politics and can usher in a new bounds. In a press conference following privately disagree with the president, instead brag about the level of support Trump has a drastic step and that he didn’t feel like and non-atavistic political culture that can take us beyond the declaration, he admitted he did not of exercising their role in a superior body (the among Republicans, his support among waiting or working any longer (laying waste our nationalisms, fixation on grand historical narratives, “need” to go that route, but he chose to do co-equal argument is one that doesn’t hold independents (a figure that includes many to the notion he’s a terrific deal-maker), and national complexes that we all seem to suffer from. so anyway. He then showed how seriously up when scrutinizing the powers Congress conservatives who no longer identify as Trump essentially gave up any moral We would not have reached this solution had the “balkanism” he thought of the emergency by jetting off has over the executive and judicial branches Republicans) hasn’t hit more than 40 per authority he had. Congress, therefore, of the dispute not been recognized and affirmed in order to be to Mar-a-Lago for a weekend of golf. doesn’t have to go along with it. subverted and reinvented into an instrument of empowerment. Unsurprisingly, Trump found pockets of If Republicans cower and refuse to The two prime ministers, or indeed the two nations, very support among the Trump-faithful on social The president continues to drive out confront something they’d never allow a much deserve a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. The agreement media, particularly among the Twitterati. elements of the GOP which are critical to its Democratic president to do, they’ll deserve ensures stability in Greece and North Macedonia which also He also received the usual backing of many success in the future. Those who are hanging the consequences that come as a result. guarantees the security of all of Southeast Europe and as a of his Fox News sycophants. Unfortunately, Those consequences will be the subjugation consequence of Europe as a whole. Both Tsipras and Zaev some of the support (tacit or outright) on to the president’s current strategy and of their political power to the Democratic seem to have been acutely aware of this fact and have acted that comes from fellow members of the behaving as though it is a recipe for future Party at both the federal and state level on it with much vision and sense of responsibility. Republican Party is another example of success are kidding themselves. for a long, long time. (Source: Al Jazeera) the party trading short-term wins for long- (Source: Independent) ساعت: امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 23, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Maybe it is always darkest, like now, Pulwama and Zahedan attacks: search for the actual before any dawn beneficiaries 1 You can bet that the GOP and the are “terrorist” organizations, it must be Trump Administration will lie like crazy said, even though the U.S. and Israel claim Asif Durrani and even create false flags to scare the they are. voters into thinking there’s an imminent As for the JCPOA, saving the deal finally attack on the U.S. by some other country, will not be easy because Trump’s drive to Was it a coincidence that Zahedan and Pulwama suicide attacks took including Iran. (Bush did it in 2003.) destabilize Iran and foment military actions place within 24 hours on 13th and 14th February, respectively? These Sanders it seems had just one chance to seems to be accelerating. And the Trumpists attacks carry a very serious message from the perpetrators that they beat Trump back in 2016, and may have have been appealing to the deal’s other would keep Pakistan under pressure whenever an opportunity arises had he not folded and supported Hillary signatories to abandon it. One could argue for Pakistan to head towards stability and prosperity. As stated by Prime Clinton after the rigged, corrupt primary. that all this merely smacks of extreme des- Minister Imran Khan that Pulwama attacks had no benefits for Pakistan. He ought to have created an independent peration because so far neither Venezuela Similarly, those who chose a day earlier to attack the IRGC convoy were campaign in summer 2016. nor Iran has crumbled like cheap houses of aware of the arrival of Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS), Crown Moreover, Sanders must be suspect cards despite all the Trump expectations Prince of Saudi Arabia, to Pakistan. Everyone knows how sceptical Iran because he supported every war the U.S. that they would. has been about Saudi Arabia and MBS’ visit to Pakistan was not seen initiated as a senator from Vermont. At However, amid all the Trump Administration in a favourable light. There is a common factor which prompted these any rate, entrenched, extant Presidents BS, there are growing factures between the attacks, especially the timings of attacks in short succession in Iran and are hard to bring down, and it’s also highly U.S. and its allies, especially in Europe, who Pulwama. Clearly, it was meant to sabotage the visit of Saudi Crown likely that some Democrats will not line up do NOT want the U.S. to attack Iran, who want Prince. It was intended to kill two birds with a single stone; to sabotage firmly behind a Sanders, for they, too, are the JCPOA to thrive, and who are beginning the visit so that MBS may cancel his visit and portray Pakistan as an almost equally as corrupted as the GOP. to see that the U.S. has not been a partner for insecure country for investment. It remains to be seen, regarding the peace anywhere. (China and Russia have known Let us first discuss the Iran attack. Reportedly the suicide attack regime change efforts, whether Maduro this for a long time, by the way.) When and at took place at the Zahedan-Khash highway inside the Iranian territory can manage to hold on in Venezuela. He what point do countries like Merkel’s Germany killing 27 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers. According has the backing of a majority of Venezue- stand up for themselves and definitely break to the Iranian officials, the Jashe Adl was responsible for the attacks, lans at least to the extent that most don’t Saddam Hussein in 2003 with claims of fact that economic sanctions have not, as with Washington’s destructive, hegemonic whose operatives are allegedly based in Pakistani Balochistan and are want U.S. meddling, much less any kind Iraqi WMD as well as claims he was allied anyone with half a brain can understand, schemes? supported by Saudi Arabia and UAE. Later, Iranian Armed Forces chief of military attack or a civil war. But the with al-Qaeda. resulted in the breakdown of the Islamic And if they do, will that be enough to General Bagheri claimed that the suicide attackers were Pakistanis. Trump gang and the Deep State seems Of particular note this past week is an Republic. deter the Neocons and other warmongers It is a fact that Iranian officials have been accusing Jashe Adl in hell bent on finding the next country to article published in the Washington Times But of all Mideast countries besides and force them to back down? The recent the past of perpetrating terrorist acts inside Sistan-o-Balochistan and eff up, and whether the next is Venezuela newspaper, a rag of a paper if ever there was Assad’s Syria, Iran has been vehemently conclave in Warsaw was an abject failure for complained of Saudi and Emarati connivance in these acts. However, is beside the point. one, stating that Iran has been providing opposed to terrorism, and the deadly at- both Trump and Netanyahu with respect to this time the Iranian officials forgot the timings of these suicide attacks Even though some Democratic Party high-level al-Qaeda operatives with secret tack blamed on an al-Qaeda linked group demonizing Iran further. As dark as these to portray Saudi Arabia in bad light and put pressure on Pakistan for members see the validity of and virtue in sanctuary in Iran and funneling money and in Iran’s southeast which resulted in the times are, it is always darkest before the “laxity or complicity” in the crime. Firstly, it would be naïve on the part the U.S. returning to the JCPOA, we can weapons to al-Qaeda across the Mideast. death of 27 Iranian Revolutionary Guard dawn, presuming that dawn will appear of Saudis to encourage such an attack when their Crown Prince is on an already witness the various warmongers The aim is to provide a legal justifica- soldiers, is clearly not indicative of Iran’s somehow, someday, and World War 3 does official visit to Pakistan. Secondly, during the past two years, Pakistan casting about for a casus bello, just as they tion for military attacks against Iran or change of posture against terrorists of any not descend on humanity and wreck the has taken effective security measures along the Iranian border which did in the lead up to the war on Iraq and its proxies by the U.S. and Israel given the stripe. And neither Hezbollah nor Hamas planet. has brought down incidents of illegal crossing, smuggling of narcotics and human trafficking-a fact acknowledged by the Iranian officials at the highest level. Significantly, a major link to the terrorist attacks in Zahedan-Khash with circumstantial evidence is being ignored. India has been very much involved in the Iranian Balochistan. With investment in Chabahar Port Where do Muslims stand in India! to gain access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, India has been running a parallel track of espionage against Pakistan in the past few years. 1 In premier colleges only one out of 25 under-grad- in Indian Railways while 98.7% of them are positioned There is a widespread encroachment of Muslim grave- uate students and one out of 50 post-graduate students is at lower levels. Representation of Muslims is very low yard land (Qabristan) and it is the Government’s statutory Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jhadev was running a spy network a Muslim. Unemployment rate among Muslim graduates in the Universities, Banks Corporates etc. In no state duty to protect these properties but there exists no such during these years in Chabahar under the garb of jewellery business. is the highest among all socio-religious communities. does the representation of Muslims in the government issue pertaining to Hindu cremation grounds (Sham- He was arrested in Pakistani Balochistan but his two accomplices fled Only 3% of Muslim children among the school going age departments match their population share. shan). There are so many other issues like Delimitation, from Chabahar despite being informed by the Pakistani officials to their go to Madarsas. Muslim parents are not averse to main- Muslim-OBCs (other backward categories) are sig- extremism etc. where Muslims have suffered politically, Iranian counterparts. Still a satisfactory answer is awaited from Iran. stream education or to send their children to affordable nificantly deprived in comparison to Hindu-OBCs. The physically and economically. However, this is not the occasion to go into the details as the matter is Government schools. work participation rate shows the presence of a sharp The government has acknowledged disadvantages faced on the agenda of two governments. But the access to government schools for Muslim difference between Hindu-OBCs (67%) and the Muslims. by Muslims and has put its recommendations through But the Indian involvement in Zahedan-Khash suicide attack cannot children is limited. There is non-availability of schools The share of Muslim-OBCs in government/ Public sector “The Justice Sachar Commission report” which was con- be ruled out given the fact that Indian intelligence agency, RAW, through within easy reach for girls at lower levels. Absence of girl’s jobs is much lower than Hindu-OBCs. Out of every hun- ducted by a high-level committee nominated by Prime its Consulate in Zahedan and front offices in Chabahar,has been actively hostels and female teachers are also impeding factors. dred workers about eleven are Hindu-OBCs, only three Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006. It has provided ex- involved with the dissidents of Pakistani Balochistan. Significantly, for The average amount of bank loan disbursed to the are Muslim-Gen and one is a Muslim-OBC. haustive research on Muslim socioeconomic conditions, operational reasons, these dissidents have forged working relationship Muslims is 2/3 in comparison disbursed to other minor- There are about 5 lakh registered Wakfs (mortmain and made a wide range of proposals. Need of the hour is with the sectarian elements in Balochistan. It’s common sense that India ities. In some cases it is half. property) with 6 lakh acre land and Rs 6,000 crore book to start work in letter and spirit on implementation of would facilitate Zahedan-Khash attacks on a simple logic that no one The Reserve Bank of India’s efforts to extend banking value. But the gross income from all these properties is recommendations by Sachar Commission. would suspect India of its complicity while it would cause damage to and credit facilities under the Prime Minister’s 15-point only 163 crores i.e. 2.7%. The management of Wakf Boards Reference: Sachar Commission report (The commis- Pakistan-Iran relationship, and, simultaneously sabotage the Crown programme of 1983 has mainly benefited other minorities is unsatisfactorily due to inadequate empowerment of the sion was setup to assess the socio-economic conditions of Prince’s visit to Pakistan. marginalizing Muslims. State Wakf Boards and Centreal Wakf Council. Encroach- muslims constituted by then Prime Minister of India Dr. The second episode of the suicide drama unfolds in Pulwama where The presence of Muslims has been found to be only 3% ment of Wakf properties by the State is a common practice. Manmohan Singh and was headed by Justice Rajinder the perpetrator took the lives of 42 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the IAS (Indian Administrative Services) 1.8% in the The attitude of the State Governments and their agen- Sachar. The report was submitted to the Government personnel. Again, there are variety of factors which need to be looked IFS (Indian foreign Services) and 4% in the IPS (Indian cies has resulted in large scale abrogation of the cherished in 2006. into to decipher the real motives of Pulwama suicide attacks. First, if Police Services). The share of Muslims in employment objectives of the Wakfs. The prime minister is aware that Consultations: Dr. Syed Zaffar Mahmod, President one presumes that it is the job of Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM), and it in various departments is abysmally low at all levels. large number of half a million Waqf properties in India Zakat Foundation of India and former officer on special happened at the behest of JeM’s leadership based in Pakistan then it Muslim community has a representation of only 4.5% are under unauthorized occupation. duty to Prime Minister of India. should really be a cause for concern for the Pakistani government that non-state actors are dictating Pakistan’s foreign policy. In that case it would serve the cause of peace if the Government of Pakistan may come out openly in denouncing such acts and taking the culprits to task. Second, and strangely, no one has seen the authentic statement coming Stronger SA likely to spread its extremist ideology : Zonis out from the erstwhile JeM accepting the responsibility of attacks on the CRPF convoy. That within minutes of the incident Indian officials and 1 As the Saudi Kingdom is the has provisions limiting the Saudi transfer of double standards? media pointed the finger towards JeM and Pakistan smack of sinister main sponsor of Takfiri extremism all around its extremist ideology. But we will have to A: The Saudis have not had any mean- designs by those who thrive on perennial tensions between Pakistan the world, what can be consequences of such wait for the publication of the plan. ingful missile or nuclear lear programs and India. Objective Indian commentators have asked many questions act globally? U.S. is committed to Israeli regime’s — although long ago they helped finance leading to incompetence and security lapses. However, the manner in A: President Trump supports Saudi Arabia security. Can’t such a move create possible Pakistan’s development of nuclear weap- which hype has been created around the issue with ruling party going as a counter weight to Iran. But a stronger threats to the security of Tel Aviv despite ons against India. So the U.S. has not had berserk to “teach Pakistan a lesson” reveals that it suits Mr. Modi to Saudi Arabia would be more likely to spread current cooperation between Ryadh and a double standard in that sense. But the ratchet up tensions with Pakistan; solidify Hindu votes and create fear its ideology across the Muslim world. The Tel Aviv? stupidity of U.S. policy — to withdraw from psychosis, especially amongst the Muslims. The question arises why President’s son-in-law, , A: Of course it could especially because the the JCPOA — and then think about selling would India kill its own soldiers to make a point. This is precisely the someone who has known nothing about Israelis would be worried about the Saudis nuclear reactors to the Saudis is the height point; it is no more a secret that Chattissingh-Pora incident in Indian international relations, has been working transferring the technology to other Middle of a double standard. Occupied Kashmir (IHK) in which dozens of Sikhs were actually killed by on a Middle Eastern peace plan which is Eastern states considered hostile to Israel. What is Trump after in the region by the Indian security forces but blamed on the Kashmiri freedom fighters. apparently near completion and ready for Comparing the U.S. reaction to Saudi destabilizing acts? That intelligence agencies do such things is not surprising in order to presentation to Middle Eastern states, Saudi missile and nuclear program with its reaction A: The Trump administration believes that camouflage their actions. Arabia in particular. That plan undoubtedly to Iran’s ones, isn’t the U.S. policy enjoying Iran is destabilizing the region, not the U.S Given the deteriorating situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, where teenagers are blinded with pellet guns, India is going for short- cuts without realizing that Kashmir is not a law and order issue; it is a question of Kashmiris right to self-determination. As conveyed by Prime Minister Imran Khan that dialogue is the only viable option to U.S. withdrawal from the INF treaty was a big mistake: Pillar resolve disputes; after 17 years of death and destruction Americans 1 Trump is playing on some sources of resentment the suspected violations, to submit the suspect weapons and Taliban are engaging each other for a solution. Kashmir dispute within Europe, and the success or failure of the EU in the systems to technical evaluation and negotiation, and to find is also awaiting serious and meaningful dialogue to lessen the agony years ahead will depend on much more than just Trump ways to keep the treaty alive while resolving peacefully any of hapless Kashmiris. and his policies. questions about compliance. Certainly, the obtaining situation poses a grave challenge to Pakistan, The political and social developments in Europe Combining the 2019 invasion policy with the Tramp as on one hand it is Iran which has built a case against Pakistan while over the past two years show the power to capture extreme plot, with NATO’s military strategy in 2018, which puts on the other India is raising anti-Pakistan hype to dangerous levels right-wing movements in the continent. How do you think America at the forefront of NATO in the world, considers with grave consequences. All this is happening at a time when Afghan Trump Foreign Policy has been effective in this regard? Germany as the command center of NATO in Europe and issue is nearing a solution, at least Americans and Taliban are engaging A: The election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency under the title Trump Troop, the front line of the each other in a serious dialogue. While Iran seems to be agreeable to and the rise of populist right-wing movements in Europe conflict with Russia. Is Will ultimately lead to global peace a possible rapprochement with the Taliban which may facilitate US are both part of a transnational phenomenon. Trump and and security, or will the world move to a burning-fire war? forces withdrawal, it is India which is uncomfortable with the emerging the European right-wingers have played off each other. A: The Trump phenomenon has been overlaid on ques- situation and is itching to play a spoiler’s role in Afghanistan. After the Trump’s former political adviser Steve Bannon has also tions–which have existed ever since the collapse of the Soviet Zahedan-Khash suicide attacks, Iranians, who seem to be on the same advised some of the European movements. The presence in Union–about NATO and what role if any it should continue page with Pakistan on the Afghanistan issue, would be running second the White House of Trump has made some of the European to play in global and European security. Much of the current thoughts to show their annoyance on MBS’ visit and Pakistan’s growing right-wingers look more respectable than they otherwise sued by announcing the withdrawal of the treaty (INF) as tension with Russia has its roots in prior decisions–long closeness with Saudi Arabia although for wrong reasons. MBS’ visit has would have looked, and as such Trump has helped them an only world’s superpower in a monopolistic structure with before Trump came along–to expand NATO eastward, with not produced anything which may point towards a change in Pakistan’s politically. Trump’s active nurturing of a relationship with the foundation for a widespread war. What is your opinion an implied confrontation with Russia, rather than finding policy towards Iran. Pakistan and Iran have always stood by each other a government such as that of Poland, with its authoritarian about this? an altogether different post-Cold War security structure and that is not going to change despite upheavals in the region. inclinations, and picking of fights with more traditional and A: The U.S. withdrawal from the INF treaty was a big for Europe. Trump’s policies, with the Polish government For India, it is a golden opportunity to reset the relationship with more democratic allies in Western Europe, has all been part mistake. The treaty has been a landmark achievement in talking about a “Fort Trump” with more U.S. troops on Pakistan rather than keep South Asia hostage to its intransigence. Time of the same process. The rise of the right-wing movements arms control. Both Russia and the United States have de- Polish soil, are an additional complication to all this but not has come to address core issues with mutual accommodation and in a has been a success from Trump’s point of view, regardless ployed weapons systems that raise legitimate concerns on a fundamental cause of the problems. Any increased risk spirit of compromise; a compromise to address the issues of poverty in of how much of a setback it is for stability and democracy the other side about whether the terms of the treaty are of war stemming from Trump’s policies lies in the Middle our two countries which boast to be nuclear powers while hundreds and in Europe. being observed. The proper response to those concerns East, not Europe. millions of their people are seething under abject poverty. What a shame! The U.S. aggressive foreign policy seems to be pur- was not to scrap the treaty but instead to consult about (Source: Il Faro Sulmondo) (Source: Daily Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS FEBRUARY 23, 2019

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II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 23, 2019 HEALTHADVERTISEMENT 99 Iran’s father of liver transplant honored

HEALTH TEHRAN — Sayed Ali United States. Cancer costs constitute 2% of deskMalek Hosseini, known Malek Hosseini said that so far about as Iran’s father of liver transplant, was hon- 5,000 liver transplant as well as 5,000 kidney Iran’s health care spending ored during the 14th International Congress transplant have been performed at Shiraz HEALTH TEHRAN — Cancer medical costs are even on Breast Cancer on Thursday, IRNA news University of Medical Sciences and Nama- deskhigher than cardiovascular diseases as they agency reported. zi Hospital in Shiraz is one of the biggest constitute 2% of the country’s health care spending, deputy health Malek Hosseini, a surgeon and board transplant centers worldwide. minister Iraj Harirchi has said. member at Shiraz University of Medical He also noted that a 1000-bed hospital He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the Sciences, was honored for his achievements for cancer patients is under construction 14th International Congress on Breast Cancer on Thursday, IRNA at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical in Shiraz. In November 2018, Reza Mal- news agency reported. Sciences. ekzadeh, the then deputy health minister It is projected that within the next 10 years cancer will rise 115 He is the first person conducting a liv- for research and technology, announced percent in the country, so by taking timely measures the increase er transplant surgery from a living donor that Iran is among the top 10 countries should be controlled, Harirchi highlighted. in the Iranian calendar year 1372 (March in the world in liver transplantation and The growth of the aging population in the country is the main 1993-March 1994). ranks first in the region. reason behind the increase, he said, adding that, currently cancer Born in 1950, he completed his general Annually, at least 500 liver transplanta- is the second leading cause of death in the country. surgery residency at Shiraz University of tions are performed in the country, indicating Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and is Medical sciences (1982-1986). He also ob- a major development in the health sector, responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Globally, tained a fellowship in kidney transplantation, he said. about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer, World Health Organization Shahid Beheshti School of Medicine from Around 85% of liver transplants in the (WHO) highlights. 1987 to 1988. country are from brain dead patients, but Approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and From 1990 to 1992 he was research fellow living-donor transplantation is now hap- middle-income countries. The economic impact of cancer is in liver transplantation in Pittsburgh, the pening in Shiraz, he said. significant and is increasing. The total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at approximately $1.16 trillion.

Celery Juice: Healthy or Hype? Toxins in home furnishings Perhaps you’ve seen #celeryjuice across Instagram. even if it also had some spinach in it — they would almost Or maybe you heard about the #CeleryJuiceChallenge definitely see a drop in weight, but that’s mostly because can be passed to kids started by New York Times best-selling author Anthony celery juice would have so much less sugar and so many William, who challenged people to drink celery juice daily fewer calories,” Alexander said. “And if you were drinking Children who live in homes with vinyl flooring and flame-retardant for a week in December. a ‘healthy’ smoothie, most of which have too much sugar, furniture have higher levels of potentially harmful chemicals in It seems the bright green juice is grabbing attention online switching to celery juice could also curb your cravings, es- their blood or urine, researchers have found. and off, but is it really healthy or just a hype? pecially if you’re insulin resistant.” The new study included 203 children from 190 families who “It is true that there is supportive research on the phyto- What’s in celery juice? were tested for these chemicals -- so-called semi-volatile organic chemicals in celery helping to reduce blood pressure, reduce Celery juice contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, compounds (or SVOCs) -- in their blood or urine. inflammation, and fight against oxidative stress. These same folate, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, For the study, the researchers analyzed samples of indoor nutrients are found in whole celery as well as celery juice,” electrolytes, water and smaller amounts of other vitamins air, indoor dust and foam collected from furniture in each of Erin Palinski-Wade, registered dietitian and author of “2 and minerals. “It also contains health-boosting flavonoids the children’s homes, along with a hand-wipe sample, urine and Day Diabetes Diet,” told Healthline. and other phytochemicals, although some of them will be lost blood from each child. “Our primary goal was to investigate links However, she says claims that celery can fight infections when fiber is removed during juicing,” JJ Virgin, celebrity between specific products and children’s exposures, and to de- and disease, such as Epstein-Barr virus, aren’t backed by nutrition and fitness expert, and author of “The Virgin Diet,” highly concentrated, the sugars in juice are highly concen- termine how the exposure happened -- was it through breathing, scientific research or evidence, and are mostly anecdotal told Healthline. When the fiber is removed, Virgin says that trated as well. Other cons of juicing include the time it takes skin contact or inadvertent dust inhalation,” said study leader based on personal experiences shared online. can trigger a more rapid blood sugar response. to juice a vegetable like celery. Plus, all the experts point out Heather Stapleton. She is an environmental chemist at Duke Celebrity chef and New York Times best-selling author “Not to mention that you’ll be missing out on all the other that when you eat a food rather than drink it, you feel fuller. University’s School of the Environment. Devin Alexander agrees. health benefits of fiber,” she added. “Many foods contain “For many, too, chewing is just plain more satisfying,” “SVOCs are widely used in electronics, furniture and building “It is a trend, and it’s healthy, but it’s not a miracle cure nutrients in the peel, pulp, and other components that are Alexander said. materials, and can be detected in nearly all indoor environments,” and there is no scientific fact that it is overall better than lost when they’re converted to juice form.” What are the pros of celery juice? Stapleton explained in a university news release. juicing other vegetables,” Alexander told Healthline. She says fiber in your diet not only keeps your digestive Palinski-Wade pointed out that juice can feel more con- “Human exposure to them is widespread, particularly for young Alexander also says that people claiming to have lost 20 system functioning smoothly, but can also help with: feeling venient, especially if you make it ahead of time or buy it children who spend most of their time indoors and have greater pounds or having gained clearer skin just from swapping full, sparking weight loss, balancing your blood sugar levels, already made. She also said, “You can consume a larger exposure to chemicals found in household dust,” she added. other juice drinks for celery juice should consider what they maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, feeding the good portion faster with less volume, making it easier to eat more “Nonetheless, there has been little research on the relative were drinking and eating before they swapped. bacteria in your gut and boosting your immune system, and of a certain food… therefore allowing you to take in a higher contribution of specific products and materials to children’s “If a person was drinking 16 ounces of apple juice or a helping reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. level of vitamins and minerals.” overall exposure to SVOCs,” Stapleton said. smoothie with high-sugar fruits like bananas or mangos — She adds that even though the micronutrients in juice are (Source: Healthline) (Source: webmd.com)

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 TECHNOLOGY FEBRUARY 23, 2019 Oman willing to Digital economy taking the lead in global development: official boost science, tech TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — Digital economy and develop- deskment of different technologies in the world is taking the lead in transformation of traditional economy into modern economy, Alireza Daliri, the head of management de- co-op with Iran velopment department of the vice presidency for science and technology, has said. TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — Oman is the Iran in the field of science and tech- deskwilling to boost coop- nology and yearns for expansion of the eration with Iran in the field of science relationship. and technology. He pointed to the economic relation- Iran’s ambassador to Oman Moham- ship between two countries during past mad Reza Nouri Shahroudi and Oman’s years, which lead to high speed of bank Research Council Chairman Sayyid Shi- system and commercial cooperation. hab bin Tariq al Said discussed ways to Iran initiated direct flight from the expand ties in the field of science and Persian Gulf island of Qeshm to Muscat technology during a meeting in Muscat on February 6. on Wednesday, IRNA reported. In August 2018, Iran’s commercial The two countries have great poten- attaché to Oman Abbas Abdolkhani an- tialities in the field of technology which nounced that the value of trade between should be taken advantage of, Sayyid Iran and Oman rose 116 percent during Shihab bin Tariq al Said explained during the four-month period from March 21 the meeting. to July 22, compared to the same period The head of management development department of the vice He hailed close relationship between of time in the past year. presidency for science and technology Alireza Daliri the two countries after the victory of the He put Iran-Oman worth of trade Islamic Revolution of 1979. at $537 million in the mentioned four Oman’s Research Council Chairman Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al Said (r) and Nowadays, IT companies pioneer in the world and replace During the meeting, Nouri Shahroudi months, the website of Iran’s Trade Pro- Iran’s ambassador to Oman Mohammad Reza Nouri Shahroudi met in Muscat car manufacturing firms, he said. explained about some achievements of motion Organization reported. on Wednesday. The speed of digital economy is so high that it is being transformed into the basic economy for development of the country, he said. Daliri pointed to the role Google research engine and high University of Tehran to host junior 5 new labs, accelerators to boost hi- number of emails, which manifested that the daily life of people is based on technology. Robocop contest tech in Iran E-commerce, e-learning, e-teaching and data management are the basics of digital transformation in today world, he said. He expressed hope that the digital economy would develop in Iran with development of human resources and information technology in the near future. According to statistics released by the Ministry of Infor- mation and Communication Technology (ICT) in September 2018, over 93,700 job opportunities were created in the field of smart transportation system, e-commerce and mobile ap- plications in Iran during the previous Iranian calendar year 1396 (March 2017-March 2018). The development of digital economy as a crucial field in strengthening knowledge-based economy was a high priority during the past year, the ministry announced. According to a recent report by the E-Commerce Develop- ment Center of Iran, in the previous calendar year 72 percent of e-commerce businesses were run with less than five persons and only six percent of them were companies with more than 30 staff. Some 43 percent individuals who are active in the field of e-commerce are 30 to 40 years old, and 36 percent between 20 to 30 years old. Meanwhile, only nine percent of e-com- merce managers are women. TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — The Uni- mechanics functions; programming; and TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — Five virtual reality, and blockchain. deskversity of Tehran will finally technical testing. desknew laboratories They will be established accord- host the 5th junior Robocop competition The winners can benefit from ten and accelerators active in hi-tech ing to an agreement between the vice Startup weekend on from March 5 to 7, Mehr reported. technical courses held by the College of will be established in the near future, presidency for science and technology, electronic mental health About 1,400 elementary and secondary Engineering at the University of Tehran Mehr reported on Friday. Shahid Beheshti University and In- school students from 137 academic centers in order to attend international contests They are going to be active in formation Technology Organization. discusses entrepreneurship of seven provinces will attend the event. in other parts of the world. different fields of artificial intelli- The agreement focuses on devel- The competition will be performed in Mechanics, electronics and program- gence and machine learning, big opment of digital economy, startup ecosystem three stages: manufacturing the robot and ming comprehensible for students will be data and cloud computing, internet ecosystem and knowledge-based its evaluation in terms of electronics and taught during the courses. of things, augmented reality and companies. TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — Entrepreneurs and academ- deskics discussed boosting entrepreneurship ecosystem in the field of e-commerce and marketing dur- ing the first startup weekend on electronic mental health, Content creation for messaging apps should be enhanced: official IRNA reported. TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — Iran needs to have active messaging app in Iran, with Iranian messaging applica- A total of 128 ideation professionals attended the first deskparticipation in improving content tions has turned into a challenge on the national level. startup weekend on electronic mental health, which was held creation skill for messaging apps, the deputy director Telegram, with 40 million subscribers in Iran, was from February 20 to 22 at the University of Tehran. of Supreme Council of Cyberspace, Amir Khorakian, on top list of messaging applications in the country. It The improvement of self-care and mental health literacy, announced on Thursday, IRNA reported. was banned in the country on April 30. Hundreds of coping with cyberbullying, online psychology counseling and He said that the council initiated headquarters for people and companies in Iran used the app for their some digital tools for prevention of mental illnesses were the cyberspace recently, which aims to develop public marketing and sales. issues discussed during the event. awareness about messaging apps. The alternatives for Telegram is a number of Irani- The event increase mental health knowledge amongst The messaging apps should be messenger of the an messaging applications introduced during recent students, promote innovation culture and entrepreneur- achievements and success of the Islamic Revolution months. ship and improve electronic services, the secretary of the of Iran to the world. Up to now, five messaging applications have been event reported. He said that the propaganda of enemies of Iran dom- approved by the National Center for Cyberspace, an The decrease in mental health services using electronic inate the cyberspace in order to surrender the country. organization established by the Supreme Cyberspace technology was one of the other goal of the event. Iran promoting national messaging apps Council. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- In December 2018, the Ministry of Information and Soroush, Gap, iGap, BisPhone Plus and Wispi are tion (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), unipolar Communication Technology (ICT) announced that it the applications developed by Iranian experts and are depression was the third leading cause of disease burden in double the total bandwidth of foreign social networks provides over 1,000 gigabits per second of bandwidth supported by the center. the world in 2004. in the country,” the managing director of Telecom- for Iranian messaging applications. Domestic messaging applications eye officials for Today, e-mental health refers to mental health services munication Infrastructure Company Hamid Fattahi “The Iranian messaging apps can benefit from over further support to help them to convince subscribers provided through the internet and related technology (in- announced on his Twitter account in December 2018. 1,000 gigabits per second of added bandwidth, which is to move to another application. cluding apps for smartphones). The replacement of Telegram, as the most popular In recent years, Asian countries have started thinking about how to incorporate electronic mental health into their national health systems to reach the vast populations in ru- ral areas or those in large cities who do not have access to Technology and fashion unite as the wearable market matures appropriate mental health care. As the technology that powers wearable ers – wearables are multi-use, but cheaper gets smarter, fashion brands are driving than most mobile devices. the next evolution of the wearable market. For technology providers, the challenge Currently one in five adults wears a smart is making processes as smooth and unob- New technology being tested watch or fitness band and by 2020, the trusive as possible to empower fashion that aims to prevent 65 percent wearable tech market is expected to be brands to design wearables that first and worth 30 billion euros globally. It’s clearly foremost look like high-end accessories. of pedestrian collisions a market to watch and savvy brands are Recently we have seen a plethora of fashion making a play for their slice of the pie, brands claiming customers are moving Car makers hope new technology can help save lives. According creating accessories that put style and away from the classic handbag, instead to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, deadly pedes- convenience ahead of features. preferring compact options. In parallel, trian accidents are up 45 percent nationwide since 2009. The This is a departure from the approach to within the tech sector, we have witnessed Department of Transportation finds the nearly 6,000 killed in date, where technical features have led the the rise of multifunctional devices and fric- 2017 made up 19 percent of all traffic fatalities. race, with most devices competing solely on tionless technologies amongst consumers Now IIHS is testing technology it believes could prevent up to battery life and capabilities. But technol- who seek the minimal and seamless. 65 percent of pedestrians collisions, cutting deaths by 58 percent. ogy is no stranger to fashion; from smart It’s a market that will take the com- The technology uses cameras and sensors to warn drivers and, fabrics, models wearing Google Glass on bined expertise of fashion and technology if needed, automatically applies the brakes. The institute tested the runway, to fashion designer Adam to crack, with both sides embracing each the system on 11 small SUVs. Nine earned either superior or ad- Selman sporting the next generation of other’s strengths, rather than reaching a vanced ratings for avoiding or reducing the severity of collisions payment enabled dresses on the catwalk compromise that neither speaks to their at speeds ranging from 12 to 37 miles an hour. – wearable tech is increasingly claiming together to end consumer confusion over it must appeal to both aspects. Be it a dia- customer’s inner fashionista nor address The Subraru Forester and Toyota RAV4 did the best. But the its place in fashion. whether devices are fashion accessories, mond cuff, a metallic watch, or gold-plated their tech cravings. The first few brands BMW system did so poorly it received no credit at all. In the fashion world, trends such as tech hardware or fitness tools. ring, smart jewellery that allows consumers are just starting to get this right with truly “It either didn’t break or didn’t mitigate the speed enough,” athleisure remain steadfast and ever Making wearables attractive to to unlock new goods while looking good beautiful accessories that also happen to said David Aylor, with IIHS. faster, smaller tech is speaking to those consumers is essential to the next stage of wearable be digitally-powered and we can expect to IIHS wants the technology to be standard on all vehicles in same consumers seeking minimalist and Fashion and technology both act as technology’s growth. It’s a promising way see an avalanche of options as the trend the near future. seamless, but well-designed options. Now extensions of oneself and for wearable for brands to enter a new market and reach picks up pace over the coming year. (Source: cbsnews.com) technology and fashion brands need to work technology to be attractive to consumers new, connected and digitally native custom- (Source: techradar.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 23, 2019 SCIENCE 11

Team suggests signs that ancient rivers InSight beams back daily weather reports from Mars flowed across the surface of Mars You probably check the weather before you leave the house in the morning, but what if you’re heading out to Mars. Well, NASA Billions of years ago, Mars was likely a much river area in Tibet, which has the same den- has a new weather data for you. The InSight lander has been on warmer and wetter place than the cold, dry, dritic quality as the Martian valleys. the Red Planet for a few months, getting its instruments set up barren world we see today. Whether there The Martian channels and calibrated. Now, NASA is ready to provide the first-ever was life there or not remains an open ques- In a press release, the ESA says that the Martian weather report. In the most recent update, it was a balmy tion. But there’s a massive, growing wall of Martian channels were probably caused by 2 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius) at Elysium Planitia. evidence showing that Mars may have had surface water from strong river flow. Heavy InSight landed on Mars late last year and began surveying its the necessary conditions for life in the past, rainfall also probably contributed to it. The landing site. NASA chose Elysium Planitia because it’s a large, flat including at least one system of river valley flow would have “cut through existing terrain expanse idea for the probe’s planetary science mission. InSight networks. on Mars, forging new paths and carving a deployed the first seismic sensor on another planet, and data In this series of images from the Europe- new landscape.” from the so-called Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure an Space Agency (ESA)’s High-Resolution Regardless of how the water got there, (SEIS) should be arriving soon. Camera on the Mars Express Orbiter, there it is clear that there was water flowing on NASA included sensors on InSight to track the temperature, are clear signs of a system of river valleys. The the surface. A number of current and future pressure, and wind speed on Mars. That’s not its primary mission, like the water flowed from higher elevation fragmented valley rims, especially running area is in the southern highlands of Mars. It’s missions are studying and will study Mars but scientists need such data to account for potential variations on the right down to lower elevation on the east to west, are evidence of this erosion. east of the Huygens crater, a large, well-known for clues to its watery past. Martian water in the probe’s seismic data. Temperature and wind come from left. These rivers probably flowed billions of The system of river valleys bears a striking Martian crater, and north of Hellas. Hellas is is really the central question when it comes the Temperature and Wind for InSight (TWINS), as shown in years ago, and what we’re seeing now are the similarity to river networks here on Earth. One the largest impact basin on the Red Planet. to studying the planet. the above image. Meanwhile, the Auxiliary Payload Subsystem heavily eroded remnants. The smoothed and fine example of this is the Yarlung Tsangpo The area is one of the oldest surface areas Next year’s ExoMars joint mission be- (APSS) has a pressure sensor. on Mars. It’s between 3.5 billion and 4 billion In a press release, the ESA says that the tween the ESA and Russia will see a rover A nice upshot of InSight’s comprehensive sensor package is years old, and is a heavily cratered area. on the surface, drilling below the surface the new weather page on the InSight website. The page currently River valleys on Mars Martian channels were probably caused by and searching for life. That will be a first for lists all the weather stats for February 11-17. You get the highs, The morphology of the river valley is called surface water from strong river flow. Heavy Mars exploration. lows, and averages in each category. There’s even a three-day ‘dendritic’ which means branching like a tree. And the Trace Gas Orbiter is giving us a graph that helps visualize how the numbers change over the Brain cells also have dendrites, which are rainfall also probably contributed to it. detailed analysis of Mars’ atmosphere, which course of a Martian day (called a Sol). branched nerve cell endings that reach out The flow would have “cut through existing may provide another piece of the puzzle in You probably think of Mars as a chilly place, and it is. It might to each other and look like the river valleys terrain on Mars, forging new paths and solving the mystery of Mars’ ancient, watery not be as frigid as you expected, though. The high temperatures on Mars. But we digress. history. can reach the low double-digits Fahrenheit during the day. That’s From the topography in the images, it looks carving a new landscape.” (Source: universetoday.com) still below freezing, but warmer than plenty of Earth. The nighttime temperatures are much less hospitable at well over -100 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunday’s weather was typical for the late northern winter at Elysium Planitia with a high of 2 degrees Coastal waters are unexpected hotspots for Research reveals why the Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius) and low of -138 degrees Fahren- heit (-95 degrees Celsius). Mars is also famous for massive dust nitrogen fixation, researchers find zebra got its stripes storms, but the average wind speed is just a few miles per hour. (Source: extremetech.com)

We have a new development in the mysterious case of the desert ‘fairy circles’

From above, the Namib Desert in Africa appears afflicted by disease, pocked with patches of bare earth that are either touched by the gods, the dead, or the wildlife, depending on who you ask. Science had all but closed the book on these mysterious ‘fairy circles’, placing the blame squarely on the soil. To remove all doubts, researchers turned to the skies for more evidence, only to discover the story might not be so clear cut after all. Ecologist Stephan Getzin from the University of Göttingen in Germany has been front and center of the fairy circle debate for years after first encountering them in Namibia as an undergrad. Nitrogen fixation is surprisingly high in 6,000 kilometers of the western North Why do zebras have stripes? A study published cal Sciences, added: “This reduced ability His most recent research could be the final nail in the coffin for coastal waters and may play a larger role Atlantic during two 10-day research cruises in PLOS ONE on February 20, takes us an- to land on the zebra’s coat may be due to (unfounded) suggestions that termites are to blame for these strange than expected in carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2015 and 2016. other step closer to answering this puzzling stripes disrupting the visual system of the rings. But it’s also adding new details to theories describing how uptake in these waters, a new study led by Collecting that unprecedented volume question and to understanding how stripes horse flies during their final moments of these strange spaces in the vegetation actually form. Duke University scientists show. of data in such a short amount of time at actually work. approach. Namibia’s vast stretch of fairy circles had already been perplexing Knowing where and when nitrogen sea was possible, Cassar explained, because The evolution of the zebra’s two-tone “Stripes may dazzle flies in some way ecologists for decades; then, Getzin was alerted to the existence of a fixation is occurring will help scientists his lab team has developed an instrument coat has intrigued scientists for over 150 once they are close enough to see them with similar expanse of vegetation in the arid Pilbara region of Western better quantify coastal waters’ ability to that allows them to do near-continuous years. Many theories have been proposed, their low-resolution eyes.” Australia in 2014, providing him with the evidence he needed for absorb and store carbon dioxide and aid real-time analysis of N2 fixation. They including avoiding predators, better heat Their second experiment was to observe his own hypothesis. in future climate predictions. use a method called FARACAS, or flow- regulation and a social function, yet there horse fly behavior around the same horses In 2017, we were given an answer - the fairy circles in both Namibia “Past models suggested most nitrogen through incubation acetylene reduction is still no agreement between scientists. wearing different colored cloth coats: black, and the Pilbara are caused by plants competing for water around fixation occurred in the open ocean. We assays by cavity ring-down laser absorption Now, researchers from the University white or zebra striped livery. This excluded patches of soil that channel water at a faster rate. found the opposite: Rates are actually higher spectroscopy. of Bristol and UC Davis, California, USA, any differences in behavior or smell between Well, that’s part of the story. Science is rarely so simple, and in coastal areas. They’ve just been mostly Marine nitrogen fixation have added evidence to the theory that the horses and zebras. Just as before, when horses questions remained on whether termites commonly found near overlooked until now,” said Nicolas Cassar, Previously, the only way scientists had primary purpose of zebras’ stripes is for wore coats with striped patterns, they expe- these empty patches are merely tourists or tiny lumberjacks con- professor of biogeochemistry at Duke’s to quantify marine nitrogen fixation, which avoiding blood-sucking parasites. rienced fewer horse fly landings compared tributing to the desolation. Nicholas School of the Environment, who tends to be very episodic in nature, was to Professor Tim Caro, Dr. Martin How to when they wore single-color coats. To clear the air once and for all, Getzin and fellow researchers was senior author on the study. sporadically collect samples, perhaps twice and colleagues have been investigating the Domestic animals from Israel and Australia systematically surveyed dozens of fairy Most of this overlooked activity is being daily, in locations where their research behaviors of tabanid horse flies around cap- Horse flies are a widespread problem circles near the Western Australian town of Newman, digging 154 driven by microbes known as cyanobacterial vessel stopped. This was like reading only tive zebras and domestic horses at a livery for domestic animals so mitigating tech- holes over a length of 12 kilometers (7.5 miles). diazotrophs that live in coastal waters, the two chapters of a book instead of all of them, in North Somerset, using video analysis niques, such as the development of anti-fly (Source: sciencealert.com) study shows. Cassar said. It left gaps in the narrative. techniques. wear designed to resemble zebra stripes, The tiny organisms take in nitrogen gas “Our new instrument lets us collect The zebras’ stripes may, from this research, be an interesting (N2) and convert it into ammonia (NH3), near-continuous samples over broad Their new study has shown that stripes outcome for animal health and wellbeing. Dinosaur extinction lines up a form of nitrogen that phytoplankton, the expanses of the ocean while the ship is don’t deter horse flies from a distance, with The research also directly observed zebra base of the marine food web, can use as moving, which makes it a much better both zebras and domestic horses experienc- and horse behavior in response to biting closely with timing of volcanic food. This in turn fuels photosynthesis by tool for assisting researchers. It’s like a ing the same rate of circling from the flies. flies. Zebras exhibited preventative behavior, the phytoplankton and the uptake of CO2. biogeochemical compass,” he said. “While However, video analyses revealed differences such as running away and tail swishing at a eruptions: new study Coastal carbon cycle each data point is not fully independent at in approach speed, with horse flies failing far higher rate than horses. Consequently, “This means that we have to revisit the this resolution, we can collect more data to slow down on approach to zebras, which any horse flies that did successfully land on Were the dinosaurs seen off by an asteroid, or a flurry of volcanic global distribution of marine N2 fixation on one cruise than you find in the existing is essential for a successful landing. zebras spent less time there compared to eruptions? Two new studies on the timing of volcanic events help and re-evaluate its role in the coastal carbon literature.” Professor Tim Caro, Honorary Research those landing on horses, with few staying us piece together the story of Earth’s most famous mass extinction, cycle,” said Weiyi Tang, a Ph.D. student A meta-analysis of the existing literature Fellow from the University of Bristol’s School long enough to probe for a blood meal. but they leave it unclear exactly what triggered the demise of so in Earth and Ocean Sciences at Duke’s that Tang subsequently conducted shows of Biological Sciences, said: “Horse flies just In Africa where zebras are native, horse many species. Nicholas School, who conducted the re- that nitrogen fixation is likely significant in seem to fly over zebra stripes or bump into flies carry dangerous debilitating diseases Around three-quarters of search as part of his doctoral dissertation. other coastal regions worldwide, too, not them, but this didn’t happen with horses. such as trypanosomiasis and African horse the species on Earth are thought Cassar and Tang published their just in the western North Atlantic. Consequently, far fewer successful landings sickness which cause wasting and often death. to have perished in the Creta- peer-reviewed study Feb. 19 in Nature “Nitrogen fixation is one of the most were experienced by zebras compared to Therefore, it is unsurprising that zebras utilize ceous-Palaeogene extinction Communications. important processes governing life on horses.” both behavioral defenses and morphological event 66 million years ago, most Their findings are based on thousands Earth and in the oceans. Dr. Martin How, Royal Society University striping to avoid horse flies. famously including all dinosaurs of seawater samples collected from across (Source: phys.org) Research Fellow in the School of Biologi- (Source: eurekalert.org) except the ancestors of modern birds. In the geological records, the event coincides with a layer of rock with high levels of iridium GM mosquitoes released in high-security lab, could eradicate malaria in Africa – evidence of an asteroid im- Genetically modified (GM) female mosquitoes will become in Target Malaria consortium, assured that conservative pact. Most geologists think this sterile that they no longer have the ability to bite humans. measures were taken in every phase of the experiment to impact created a huge crater at This trait will be passed on to future generations of a par- ensure that no gene-drive mosquitoes will escape from Chicxulub, Mexico. The impact ticular species; thus, eradicating malaria in Africa. the lab. could have caused a global soot cloud that blocked out the sun. Swarms of genetically modified mosquitoes are released They are also working closely with local stakeholders Similar volcanic events have been implicated in other mass in a high-security lab located in Italy in aid of an experiment in Africa, including scientists, residents, and government extinctions in Earth’s history. Eruptions can warm the climate by to end malaria in Africa. officials. Only one out of hundreds of mosquito species will releasing massive quantities of greenhouse gases or cause cooling Scientists at Ruth Müller Lab bioengineered large numbers be affected by the experiment. by putting sun-blocking aerosols into the high atmosphere. of mosquitoes, allowing them to spread the gene drive to the A related study published in the journal Cell proposed Both studies agree that the Deccan eruptions took place over a insects’ offspring. The idea is to use the editing technique that feeding mosquitoes with a human diet drug to lose their period lasting around a million years, beginning around 400,000 called CRISPR to alter a specific gene known as doublesex, appetite. Hunger and satiety are regulated neuropeptide years before the extinction event. which is responsible for sexual development. If successful, Y-activated NPY receptors. Schoene and his colleagues suggest the Deccan eruptions occurred nearly all of the children of parent mosquitos whose genes Scientists said mosquitoes may have the same neural in four bursts. The second was the most rapid and it began tens of were modified will inherit the same trait. Anopheles gambiae will drastically decrease. pathways as humans. Appetite-suppressing drugs will lose thousands of years before the asteroid impact. Female gene-drive mosquitoes will retain the same sex However, not everyone is convinced about the safety of the mosquitoes’ biting interest; thus, reducing the incidence The discrepancy may be down to the strengths and weaknesses at birth, but some traits will resemble that of the male. releasing gene-drive mosquitoes in the wild. of mosquito-borne diseases. of the two methods. Schoene’s offers greater precision, but instead of Specifically, female mosquitoes will have mouths similar to Experimental technology “We know these pathways are important in hunger in dating lava flows directly, it dates the formation of zircon crystals in their counterpart, so they cannot bite and spread malaria. “This is an experimental technology which could have humans. Because they are evolutionarily conserved, we the lava, which may occur in magma chambers before the eruption. They will also have deformed reproductive organs, which devastating impacts,” said Dana Perls of Friends of Earth, made the decision to use human diet drugs to see if they We still don’t know what the relative contributions of the Deccan will make it impossible to lay eggs. a group of environmental activists fighting against GMOs. would suppress the appetite of the mosquitoes,” said Leslie Traps and the asteroid impact were to the extinction, says Schoene. Gene-drive mosquitoes may be released in hot spots “We need to slow down. We need to hit the pause button Vosshall, who leads the Laboratory of Neurogenetics and But having a more precise timeline helps us get closer. “Before, we like Africa, where sterile females will spread their muta- on gene drives.” Behavior at Rockefeller University. had no record with enough detail from the volcanic rock to compare tion. Eventually, the population of the malaria-causing Ruth Müller and Tony Nolan, a senior research fellow (Source: techtimes.com) to the climate records,” he says. (Source: newscientist.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Building 12,000 Govt. pledges to increase housing units for the underprivileged to begin SOCIETY TEHRAN — As per a memorandum of un- water level at Lake Urmia deskderstanding signed between Imam Khomeini ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN —The Iranian restoration of Lake Urmia in 2013 the water Relief Foundation, Budget and Planning Organization as well deskgovernment has pledged level decreased by 40 centimeters annually as the Islamic Revolution Housing Foundation, a project to take measures to increase water level and the measures taken in past few years for construction of 12,000 housing units for the underpriv- at Lake Urmia by one meter within the have revived the lake again, IRNA news ileged will get off the ground in southeastern province of next three years, deputy environment chief agency reported on Thursday. Sistan-Baluchestan, Mehr reported on Friday. Masoud Tajrishi has said. The drastic decrease of the lake water Shared between West Azarbaijan and level over the past 20 years has serious- East Azarbaijan provinces Lake Urmia, ly affected the lake’s wildlife and human was once the largest salt-water lake in the ecology. In order to maintain the lake Middle East. It was a home to many mi- ecological balance the lake surface area gratory and indigenous animals including should increase to twice its current size to flamingos, pelicans, egrets and ducks and almost 4,300 square kilometers and the attracted hundreds of tourists every year volume of water should be at 14.5 billion who had taken a trip to take advantage cubic meters. of the therapeutic properties of the lake. On February 17 director general of West In 1999 the volume of water was at 30 Azarbaijan regional water company Kiyo- billion cubic meters drastically decreased mars Daneshjoo announced that volume to half a billion cubic meters in 2013. More- of water in Lake Urmia, northwestern Iran, over, the lake surface area of 5,000 square has increased by 810 million cubic meters kilometers in 1997 shrunk to one tenth compared to the same date last year. of that to 500 square kilometers in 2013. He also said that currently the total Parviz Fattah, the head of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation With implementation of the necessary volume of water in the Lake measures at explained that the housing units will be completed within a year. measures the lake level will rise by some 30 2 billion cubic meters and the lake surface Building housing units for financially struggling families centimeters annually and 1 meter in three area stands at 2,311 square kilometers. especially in southeastern Iran is a priority for the organiza- years, Tajrishi said, adding that, this year It is widely believed that local commu- tion, Fattah highlighted. (started on March 21, 2018) some 5 trillion This year (started on March 21, 2018) some nities participation in restoring the lake’s Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation is a charitable organization, rials (nearly $120 million) was allocated 5 trillion rials (nearly $120 million) was glory is one of the most important elements founded in March 1979, after the Islamic Revolution, to provide to the lake restoration programs. in saving the “the turquoise solitaire of support for families who are struggling financially. The aim is to Before establishing headquarters for allocated to the lake restoration programs. Azarbaijan”. help such families regain financial stability. Educator’s guide to autism published Waste management plans drawn up for National Tree Planting Day: for elementary schools 640 cities nationwide Tehran Municipality to plant SOCIETY TEHRAN — A guide- ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Com- deskbook for teaching autistic deskprehensive plans for 2 million trees children has been prepared and published waste management in 640 cities nation- for elementary schools across the country, wide have been drawn up, an official deputy director of educational planning with the Municipalities and Village Ad- ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Tehran Municipality will plant 2 and rehabilitation at the Special Education ministrators Organization, affiliated to desk million trees on the occasion of National Tree Organization has said. the Interior Ministry, has said. Planting Day, head of Tehran Parks and Green Spaces Organ- “There are 2,800 children suffering from Moreover, plans for waste man- ization, affiliated to the municipality, IRIB reported on Friday autism disorder studying at schools nation- agement in 200 other cities are being wide,” IRNA quoted Mohsen Ghafourian prepared as well, Habib Razi said, IRNA as saying on Wednesday. Hossein Nahvinejad, deputy director news agency reported on Thursday. capita in rural areas is about 220-340 The Organization as a responsible body for the Welfare Organization for rehabili- Additionally, policies and guide- grams per day. Average Iranian waste for educating the children with develop- tation affairs, for his part, said that a total lines to tackle the issue of waste and generation per capita amounts to some mental disabilities like autism, has con- of 800,000 autistic patients are being causing a decrease in waste production 240 kilograms per year. sidered some objectives in this regard, he taken care by their families, so Ministry including levying fines on industries In Tehran alone waste generation per further noted. of Health must take steps toward paying producing hazardous waste are dis- capita is estimated at 750-800 grams He went on to explain that identifying their treatment costs. cussed in the budget bill for the next per day and each Tehrani citizen gener- the children with special conditions and Some 3,500 individuals suffering from fiscal year (starting March 21), Razi ates about 270-450 kilograms of waste developing education opportunities for au- autism also are being kept in treatment highlighted. per years. tistic children along with regular students, centers affiliated to the Welfare Organization, As per a report published by United Out of 20 million tons of waste be- are among those objectives. while the Health Ministry is the responsible Nations Industrial Development Or- ing produced annually in Iran only 3.2 So, we prepared a guidebook on autistic body for treating and preventing the mental ganization (UNIDO) in October 2016, million tons is recycled and the rest children skill training and educating to be disorders.He further called on the Minis- waste generation per capita in Iran’s ends up in landfills which lead to the distributed in elementary schools throughout try of Health to take action on supporting urban areas is about 658 grams per production of some 10 million cubic National Tree Planting Day, is annually celebrated on the the country, he concluded. families suffering from autism. day while Iranian waste generation per meters of leachates. fifteenth day of Esfand, the last month on the Iranian calendar, which usually corresponds with March 6. The day marks the beginning of National Week of Natural Resources (March 6-13). Rodent declared first mammal made extinct by human-made climate change Ali Mohammad Mokhtari made the remarks over a cere- mony held on Friday when 1,100 trees were planted on Valiasr An Australian rodent is believed to be the first mammal lation, and it is thought pockets of the species, or a closely Street, a long street connecting the most northern part of to have been made extinct by man-made climate change. related species may survive there, however the region’s small Tehran to its southern part. The Bramble Cay melomys, which has only ever been mammalian species have not been closely studied. Additionally, some 200,000 trees were planted by Teh- recorded living on a small island off north Queensland, resem- Australia has one of the world’s very highest rates of raners in yards of their houses, he added. bles a small brown rat and has not been sighted since 2009. animal extinction according to the International Union for On February 12, Mokhtari announced that reforestation The low-lying island in the Torres Strait, south of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is home to large will be conducted on 1,250 hectares of 1,800 meter altitude of Papua New Guinea has been repeatedly flooded by the numbers of some of the world’s most endangered species. central mountain range of Alborz concurrent with the National sea since the turn of the millennium, and this is believed The IUCN lists 40 Australian species as extinct, 106 crit- Tree Planting Day, to prevent illegal constructions and land to have destroyed the melomys’ habitat. ically endangered, 196 endangered and 590 as vulnerable. grabbing in mountainous areas. It has now been officially recognized by Australia as Despite worsening heatwaves, destructive wildfires having been eradicated. and mass coral bleaching of the Barrier Reef, Austral- The recognition follows the same conclusion reached increased flooding of the island. ian politicians have struggled to implement policies to LEARN ENGLISH by the state of Queensland in 2016 in a report detailing The authors said: “Available information about sea-level address climate change. failed efforts to find the rodent. rise and the increased frequency and intensity of weather Last year the country pulled out of global climate What Mood Are You In? In 2014, researchers reported that a survey effort events producing extreme high water levels and damaging change agreements agreed in Paris, and an attempt involving “900 small mammal trap-nights, 60 camera storm surges in the Torres Strait region over this period point to introduce an emissions reduction programme A: Are you ok? You seem a bit anxious. trap-nights and two hours of active daytime searches to human-induced climate change being the root cause of ultimately contributed to former prime minister B: Yeah I’m OK, I have been having a lot of mood swings produced no records of the species”. the loss of the Bramble Cay melomys.” Malcolm Turnbull losing the leadership. lately. I think it has to do with the pills my doctor prescribed The state government report said: “The key factor re- The paper added: “Significantly, this probably rep- The current government has asserted its focus is on cheap that are causing chaos on my hormones. sponsible for the extirpation of this population was almost resents the first recorded mammalian extinction due to power generation ahead of action to address climate change. A: So you mean you feel ecstatic one minute and then blue certainly ocean inundation of the low-lying cay, very likely on anthropogenic climate change. The country’s Climate and Health Alliance said last the next? multiple occasions, during the last decade, causing dramatic One glimmer of hope remains for the species. Scientists year the Australian government was still projecting an B: Yeah, it’s weird. For example just this morning I was feeling habitat loss and perhaps also direct mortality of individuals.” have hypothesized the Fly River delta of Papua New Guinea increase in carbon emissions to 2030. detached and lonely, even though there was really no reason The report blamed man-made climate change for the could be a possible source of the original melomys popu- (Source: The Independent) to feel that way. A: Well, maybe your mood will swing positively and you will feel confident, brave and hopeful! ENGLISH IN USE B: I hope you are right. Key vocabulary LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION anxious: worried or nervous of what may happen mood swing: rapid or successive change of your mood chaos: a situation in which everything is happening in a confused way and nothing is organized or arranged in order Hospital damaged by افتتاح بیمارستان بازسازی شده سرپل ذهاب ecstatic: feeling very excited or happy blue: feeling sad, depressed Kermanshah quake reopens بــه گــزارش ایســنا، بیمارســتان بازســازی شــده ســرپل ذهــاب کــه در زلزلــه ســال گذشــته detached: feeling of showing lack of emotional involvement A hospital which was damaged over last year’s devastating earthquake کرمانشــاه آســیب دیــده بــود روز ســه شــنبه بازگشــایی شــد. lonely: sad from being apart from other people of Kermanshah, western Iran, was reopened on Thursday, ISNA news confident assurance, freedom from doubt agency reported. brave: not feeling any fear بیمارســتان شــهدای ســرپل ذهــاب در زلزلــه ۷.۳ ریشــتری آبــان ســال گذشــته آســیب جــدی Shohaday-e Sarpol-e Zahab hospital, which was seriously damaged دیــده بــود و پــس از گذشــت یــک ســال از ایــن حادثــه، کار مقــاوم ســازی و بازســازی آن انجــام Supplementary vocabulary maniac depressive: suffering from a disorder characterized over the powerful temblor, was reconstructed and retrofitted and و بــا حضــور حســن قاضــی زاده هاشــمی - وزیــر بهداشــت - افتتــاح شــد. by alternating mania and depression finally reopened with Iranian Health Minister Hassan Qazizadeh حســین رحیمــی، سرپرســت بیمارســتان شــهدای ســرپل ذهــاب گفــت: از همــان زمــان کار .anxiety: an abnormal sense of fear, nervousness, and Hashemi in attendance apprehension Hossein Rahimi, the caretaker chief of the hospital explained that بازســازی و مقاومســازی بیمارســتان در دســتور کار قــرار گرفــت. وی از صــرف اعتبــار self esteem: personal feelings or opinions of oneself reconstruction project of the hospital started since the quake struck and ۲۰ emotional: determined or actuated by emotion rather میلیــارد تومانــی بــرای بازســازی ایــن بیمارســتان خبــر داد. .some 200 billion rials (nearly $4.7 million) was allocated to the project than reason overwhelming: overpowering in effect or force (Source: irlangage.com) PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM Without “-hood” Wind up Bread and butter Meaning: condition or state Meaning: to bring an activity, meeting etc. to Explanation: a job or task that provides one with a earth no For example: One of the joys of adulthood is having an end steady income the ability to define oneself. For example: OK, just to wind up, could I summarize For example: I’m an artist on the weekends, but birth! what we’ve decided? being a tutor is my bread and butter. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 23, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 U.S.: 200 troops to remain in Hezbollah blasts U.S. Syria after forces’ withdrawal criticism of its role in The United States will leave around 200 when a large group was evacuated. Lebanon’s gov’t troops in Syria for a period of time, the Bali said that screening had determined The Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Movement has lambasted White House has announced, as the U.S. that most of those evacuated on Wednesday remarks made by the United States Envoy to Beirut Elizabeth President Donald Trump backed away from were not from Syria. Richard about the role the movement plays in Lebanon’s new a complete withdrawal of forces from the Blast hits minibus carrying oil government. war-torn country. workers in eastern Syria; 20 killed Hezbollah’s Thursday statement came after Richard said “A small peacekeeping group of about 200 Moreover, nearly two dozen people have during a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri will remain in Syria for a period of time,” lost their lives and a number of others sus- on Tuesday that Washington had “concern over the growing role White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders tained injuries when a powerful bomb ex- in the cabinet of an organization that continues to maintain a said in a statement on Thursday. plosion struck a minibus carrying workers militia that is not under the control of the government.” The announcement came amid fierce crit- employed in a major oil facility in Syria’s In the new cabinet, two ministries out of the total 30 minis- icism of Trump’s decision in December to eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr. tries are headed by Hezbollah lawmakers. The health ministry, withdraw the 2,000 U.S. soldiers fighting The so-called Syrian Observatory for which has the fourth largest budget in the state, is also headed the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant Tak- Human Rights (SOHR) said a car rigged by Jamil Jabak, who is close to the resistance movement, but not firi terrorist group (ISIL/Daesh) in Syria, with explosives was detonated remotely in a member of it, Press TV reported. with members of his own Republican Party the town of al-Shuhayl, close to an oil field, The statement issued by Hezbollah lawmakers hit back at blasting the move. which serves as a base for the SDF. Richard’s provocative comments, saying, “The negative American Critics have decried a number of possible The Britain-based group added that six position on Hezbollah, which American ambassadors are eager outcomes from a precipitous withdrawal, members of the Kurdish-led SDF were also to repeat after meeting with any official in Lebanon, is rejected including a Turkish attack on Kurdish-led killed as they escorted the workers. and condemned.” Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Washing- Raqqah in 2014 after it overran territories in aircraft flew overhead. Activists with relatives in the area said The U.S. stance, the statement added, “violates national sov- ton’s main ally in the fight against ISIL, as Syria and Iraq. The group committed some The Kurdish-led SDF surrounding the many of the young men in the blown-up ereignty and ignores a legitimate right in international law - the well as a resurgence of the armed group. of the most heinous crimes against civilians patch of land has been unable to carry out a minibus had come from work in the nearby right to self-defense and to resist every threat and aggression” Largest ISIL mass grave holding and military forces, which shocked the world. final assault on the last enclave held by the al-Omar field. and is biased towards “the terrorist entity” of Israel. 3,500 people found outside Raqqah Eight more mass graves have been already ISIL because of the presence of the civilians. Video footage published on social media Lebanon announced the formation of a coalition government Meantime, the bodies of more than 3,500 dug up around Raqqah where recovery efforts Some 300 ISIL terrorist along with ci- networks purportedly showed bodies lying last month after much debate over the line-up of the cabinet, ending people who were killed at the hands of ISIL began in January 2018. vilians believed to be mostly their families, on the ground following the attack. months of wrangling amid fears of a major economic collapse. have been exhumed in Syria’s northern city Since then, more than 3,800 bodies have according to The Associated Press news agen- Massive car bomb in Syria’s Afrin On Friday, Lebanon’s parliament approved the government by of Raqqah, the Takfiri terrorist group’s for- been uncovered across Raqqah. cy, have been under siege for more than a Also on Thursday, several people suffered giving it a confidence vote. mer bastion. More civilians leave ISIL week in the tent camp in Baghouz, near the injuries when a massive blast hit Syria’s Kurd- (Source: Tasnim) According to reports on Thursday, the holdout in Syria Iraqi border. ish-populated northwestern city of Afrin. burial site is located in the al-Fukheikha Elsewhere, trucks carrying civilians left Reuters news agency says 7,000 civilians The explosion occurred as a car bomb was suburb and so far the remains of 120 people ISIL’s last pocket of territory in eastern Syr- were also holed up with the fighters, citing detonated near Dirsem Hospital following a have been unearthed from the mass grave ia on Friday hours after coalition air raids Mustafa Bali, head of the SDF’s media office. military parade by members of the so-called Three injured in Israeli at a farmland outside Raqqah. meant to pressure the fighters targeted the As the trucks left the area, Bali told Reuters FSA, according to the observatory. “There are some 2,500-3,000 bodies es- area on the banks of the Euphrates River. that thousands more civilians still remained The London-based observatory added fire on Palestinian timated there, plus between 900 and 1,100 Reporters near the front line at Baghouz inside the village. that some of the injured were in critical fishermen in Gaza bodies in the individual graves, so at least saw dozens of trucks driving out full of civilians. A full evacuation of civilians was re- condition. 3,500 total,” Asaad Mohammad, a forensic Most on board were women and children, quired to bring about a final defeat of ISIL Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed Palestinian authorities say Israeli naval forces have injured at assistant at the site, said. although there were some men, their faces in Baghouz, he told Reuters earlier on Friday. militancy since March 2011. The Syrian least three fishermen after opening fire on their boats off the He added that the burial site is “the largest covered with chequered scarves. In the past few weeks, nearly 20,000 peo- government says the Israeli regime and coast of the besieged Gaza Strip. grave since Daesh (ISIL) came to Raqqah” The trucks were escorted by gun-mounted ple had left Baghouz through a humanitarian its Western and regional allies are aiding The attack took place 11 nautical miles off the coast of Khan in 2014 and that the identity of the victims pick-up trucks belonging to the U.S.-backed corridor, leaving the ISIL holdout on foot, Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in Younis, head of the Fishermen Committees in the Union of Ag- remains unknown. SDF. As the convoy passed, automatic gunfire but the fighters then closed the passage and the country. ricultural Work Committees, Zakaria Bakr, told Ma’an news ISIL established its de facto capital in could be heard in the distance and coalition no civilians left for a week until Wednesday, (Source: agencies) agency on Thursday. Sources said at least four fishermen aboard the boats were detained, while Israeli forces confiscated some of the boats and towed them to an Israeli port. Bakr identified the detainees as Khader Marwan al-Saidi, Pakistan’s Imran Khan approves military response if India attacks Muhammad Said al-Saidi, and brothers Haitham and Awni The Pakistani government has authorized its military to border village in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Tareq Bakr. “respond decisively and comprehensively to any aggression Local authorities have encouraged residents in areas near Further south in the Rafah port, an Israeli military vessel or misadventure” by neighboring India, as tensions soar the Line of Control (LoC) to take additional precautions rammed into a Palestinian fisherman’s boat, leaving him hos- between the nuclear-armed rivals. against the risk of “mischievous action” by the Indian army. pitalized and his boat damaged. India has vowed a “jaw-breaking response” to a suicide “Bunkers should be constructed in areas where they In recent years, Israeli forces have carried out more than a bombing in the disputed Kashmir region last week that don’t exist. Unnecessary lighting should be avoided after hundred attacks on Palestinian boats, arresting dozens of fish- killed 42 Indian soldiers - the worst such attack since the sunset and people should refrain from travelling on roads ermen and confiscating some of the vessels. start of an armed rebellion in 1989. located close to LoC,” the local disaster management agency Palestinians have held weekly protests near the Gaza fence Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the warned residents in Chakothi. over the siege on the enclave and the right for refugees to return order in a government statement released after a meeting India, meanwhile, is pressing for Pakistan to be kept on to their homes they were forcibly expelled from during the 1948 of his National Security Committee on Thursday. a terrorism-financing watch list, three Indian government creation of Israel. It said Pakistan was “not involved in any way, means or officials told Reuters news agency on Thursday. More than 260 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces form” in the attack which it said was “conceived, planned The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global body The Pulwama attack chilled the long frosty relations between India and Pakistan, with New Delhi accusing Is- ever since anti-occupation protest rallies began in the Gaza Strip on and executed indigenously”. created to counter terrorism financing and money laundering, March 30. Over 26,000 Palestinians have also sustained injuries. In the statement, Pakistan reiterated its offer to help has been meeting in Paris this week and Pakistan has been lamabad of failing to crack down on armed groups operating from its soil and saying it would work to isolate Islamabad The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14 last year, on investigate the attack and to take action against anyone hoping to get off a “grey-list” of nations with inadequate the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba Day (Day of Catastro- found to be using the Pakistani soil for attacks on India. controls over such activities. diplomatically. India cancelled Most Favored Nation trade privileg- phe), which coincided this year with the United States embassy Pakistan also offered to hold a “dialogue” with India But two Indian government officials dealing with the relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem). on all issues, including terrorism. Earlier, it had demand- issue said new information had been provided to the FATF es for Pakistan and imposed 200 percent duty on goods coming from Pakistan, further squeezing the miniscule The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since ed India provide evidence for its claims that it supports relating to Pakistan after the car bombing last week in Pul- June 2007. The blockade has caused a decline in the standard Kashmiri rebel groups. wama district of Kashmir. $2bn bilateral trade. In the latest effort to put pressure on Pakistan, a senior of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, have been Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM/The Army unrelenting poverty. fighting for seven decades over the Himalayan region of of Muhammad) claimed responsibility for the attack. A third Indian minister on Thursday reiterated New Delhi’s plan to restrict the flow of water to Pakistan from its share of rivers. Israel carries out regular attacks on Palestinians in Gaza under Kashmir, now one of the most militarized zones in the world. Indian official said details relating to the group’s operations the pretext of hitting Hamas targets. It has also launched several Pakistan army vows ‘full force’ response if India has long accused Pakistan of harboring and aiding were provided to the FATF. wars on the enclave, the last of which began in early July 2014 and armed rebels who target its forces in Kashmir. “It was a post-Pulwama brief,” said one of the officials India attacks ended in late August the same year. The Israeli military aggression The Himalayan territory is split between Pakistani and when asked about the information provided to the watch- Elsewhere, Pakistan’s army warns that it will respond killed nearly 2,200 Palestinians and injured over 11,100 others. Indian zones of control, but both countries claim it in its dog. The officials declined to be named as the talks were to any attack by India with “full force” amid a freighted (Source: Press TV) entirety and have fought two of their three wars over it. still under way in Paris. atmosphere surrounding the ties between the two nucle- An armed rebellion erupted in Kashmir in 1989, de- Pakistan has been on the grey-list since June, making ar-armed neighbors regarding Kashmir. manding independence or a union with Pakistan. it harder for it to access international markets at a time “We have no intention to initiate war, but we will respond Pakistan denies supporting the rebels and has blamed when its economy is stumbling. with full force to full spectrum threat that would surprise you,” Pro-Hadi commander slain the violence in Kashmir on what it views as India’s military While there are no direct legal implications from being Pakistani army’s spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor occupation of the territory. on the list, it brings extra scrutiny from regulators and told reporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Friday. in Ansarullah attack near Following last week’s attack, India halted trade and a financial institutions that can chill trade and investment “Don’t mess with Pakistan,” he added. key bus service to the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir. and increase transaction costs, experts say. He emphasized that if any war is imposed on Islamabad, Saudi border News agency AFP on Thursday reported that bunkers Pakistan’s finance ministry did not immediately respond it reserves the right to respond. A high-ranking Yemeni military commander loyal to Abd Rabbuh were being rebuilt and a blackout ordered in Chakothi, a to Reuters’ request for comment. (Source: agencies) Mansur Hadi, the fugitive former president, has been killed when army soldiers and allied fighters from the Ansarullah (Houthi) movement launched a surprise attack in the mountainous north- western province of Sa’ada. Saudi sisters stopped in Hong Kong as they flee kingdom Brigadier General Salih Balaid al-Marqashi, a commander of pro-Hadi operations in Baqim district, was killed along with Two Saudi Arabian sisters have fled violent later granted asylum in Canada. Police in Hong Kong, which reunited with a dozen Hadi loyalists on Friday as Yemeni troops and their abuse in Saudi Arabia and are currently in The development also comes as MBS is China in 1997, confirmed that they had re- allies mounted an assault in the Murabba Shaja area near Saudi Hong Kong, where they have been stopped on a tour of Asia in an attempt to partially ceived a report from “two expatriate women,” Arabia’s southern border region of Najran. by the Saudi regime consular officials, their repair Saudi Arabia’s image in the wake of and said that an investigation was underway. Colonel Ahmed Abu Hadi, commander of the First Division lawyer has announced, as Saudi regime Crown international scandals, including the state But they did not give further details. of the pro-Hadi Special Forces Brigade, and dozens of pro-Hadi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is in murder of one of his critics. The Hong Kong Immigration Department militiamen lost their lives on February 8, when Yemeni troops China for a visit. The sisters, who have adopted the aliases said it would not comment on individual cases, and Ansarullah fighters carried out a similar attack east of Harad The sisters, who are aged 18 and 20 but Reem and Rawan, were intercepted by offi- while China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman district in the northwestern province of Hajjah. whose identities have not been revealed, cials during their stopover in Hong Kong, Geng Shuang said he had no information On January 10, Yemeni forces and Popular Committees fight- arrived in China in September last year before they managed to escape and enter yet about the case. ers attacked Saudi Arabia’s mercenaries at Anad Air Base in the after fleeing a family holiday in Sri Lanka the city as visitors, their lawyer further said. The House of Saud regime has long faced southwestern province of Lahij with the new domestically-de- and were planning to fly to Australia to He quoted the women as saying that their strong criticism for mistreating women veloped Qasef K2 (Striker K2) combat drone. seek asylum there, their lawyer, Michael connecting flight to Australia was canceled besides its other human rights violations. On January 13, Chief of Yemen’s pro-Hadi military intelligence Vidler, said in a statement on Thursday, and the officials “attempted to deceive the Under the kingdom’s male guardianship agency Brigadier General Saleh Tamah succumbed to injuries he explaining that they suffered violent abuse sisters” into boarding a flight back to Saudi laws, men are allowed to exercise arbitrary The sisters were told by the Hong Kong had sustained in the same drone strike. Pro-Hadi deputy chief in Saudi Arabia. Arabia. authority to make decisions on behalf of Immigration Department in November last of staff General Saleh Zindani died of his wounds at a hospital “These brave, young, intelligent women According to the lawyer, the sisters later their female relatives. year that their Saudi passports had been in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 3. have been living in fear, in hiding and in learned that the men were in fact Saudi Ara- Since May, Saudi regime authori- invalidated and they could only stay in the He was among several senior Saudi regime-sponsored com- legal limbo in Hong Kong, not knowing what bia’s consul general and vice consul general ties have detained more than a dozen city until February 28. manders who were injured in the Yemeni aerial assault. their future holds,” Vidler said. in Hong Kong. prominent women’s rights activists, “We do not want to face the same fate as The House of Saud regime and a number of its regional allies He added that the pair hoped to find a “We fled our home to ensure our safety,” most of whom campaigned for the right Mr. Jamal Khashoggi,” they wrote on Twitter, launched a devastating campaign against Yemen in March 2015, third country as a “place of safety” as soon the pair said in the same statement released to drive, which was only granted in referring to the Saudi dissident journalist and with the aim of bringing Hadi’s government back to power and as possible. by Vidler, adding, “We hope that we can be June this year. critic of Crown Prince Mohammed who was crushing Ansarullah. The case is the second of its kind this year. given asylum in a country which recognizes Riyadh has also come under intense scru- killed and whose body was dismembered by According to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location Last month, an 18-year-old Saudi girl made women’s rights and treats them as equals. tiny from its western allies over the killing government agents at Saudi Arabia’s con- and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research global headlines by locking herself inside an We dream of being in a safe place where of Khashoggi as well as possible war crimes sulate in Istanbul last October. organization, the Saudi-led war has so far claimed the lives of airport hotel room in Bangkok after fleeing we can be normal young women, free from in an ongoing war on Yemen. Khashoggi is widely believed to have been around 56,000 Yemenis. domestic abuse by her own family. She was violence and oppression.” killed on MBS’s order. (Source: agencies) (Source: Press TV) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Murray could make return English sides avoid big guns in after hip surgery, says mother Judy Europa League Chelsea face a tricky tie against Dynamo Kiev drawn together, as there are no restrictions in the Europa League round of 16, while Ar- on nationalities facing each other at this stage senal will play Rennes. - but an all-English tie was avoided. The Blues were part of the first tie drawn For Petr Cech, Arsenal’s goalkeeper who out on Friday lunchtime, and will have to retires at the end of this season, this draw travel to Ukraine in the second leg - a 3,000- is an emotional one - he played for Rennes mile round trip. before moving to English football with Chelsea. The Gunners meanwhile will face Ligue Sevilla, who won the competition three 1 club Rennes, who beat Real Betis in the years in a row between 2014 and 2016, face round of 32. Slavia Prague, while Chelsea manager Mau- Chelsea came through their round of 32 rizio Sarri will have to wait for a reunion tie against Malmo with relative ease, winning with former club Napoli as they face Red 5-1 on aggregate, while Arsenal had to come Bull Salzburg. from behind against BATE Borisov - they Inter take on Bundesliga side Eintracht lost 1-0 in Ukraine, but won the second leg Frankfurt, while Valencia - who ended the 3-0 in north London. European dreams of Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic The draw has been relatively kind to the - face Russian club Krasnodar. Premier League sides however, as they avoided Dinamo Zagreb play Benfica, while Zenit the competition’s biggest names including v Villarreal was the final tie drawn out by for- Sevilla, Napoli and Inter Milan. mer Sevilla and Valencia goalkeeper Andres The two English clubs could have been Palop, who conducted the draw.

Andy Murray could return to competitive tennis after under- going hip resurfacing surgery last month but the former world Man United’s FA Cup draw makes Lingard and Martial could return vs number one also knows his career might already be over, his mother Judy has said. Man City reschedule more complicated Liverpool, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Three-times Grand Slam champion Murray said before his first round exit at the Australian Open last month that the tour- nament could be his last as a professional due to severe hip pain. “I think he will (return),” Judy was quoted as saying by Sky Sports at the Rio Open. “(But) I think he’s aware that it might not be possible. “He’s a smart guy, he has a lot of interest in different things, he has a lot of options in life after tennis. But the most important thing is that he’s free from the pain he’s had for 20 months. “He has a young family, you have to think about the quality of life for the rest of your life. Actually, that’s the most important thing.” The two-time Olympic champion said last month surgery was the only option if he wanted to extend his career. (Source: Reuters)

Manchester United’s FA Cup quarterfinal on March 12, with dates in the weeks Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial could be gard] don’t make it, then it might be the pairing with Wolverhampton Wanderers commencing April 8 and 15 available if fit to return for Manchester United against same team that played against Chelsea.” Chelsea given two-window has complicated plans to re-schedule the both Manchester clubs fail to reach the Liverpool on Renault Super Sunday, ac- Solskjaer’s record of 11 wins in his 13 Old Trafford derby against Manchester quarterfinals. If United and City make it cording to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. matches since taking caretaker charge at Old transfer ban over youth City for the first week of April, sources have through to the FA Cup semifinals and are The pair had been expected to be out Trafford means his United side go into the told ESPN FC. then drawn against each other, there may of action until the end of the month after meeting with Liverpool full of confidence player breaches United had been due to host City in the be little appetite on both sides to stage a picking up injuries during United’s Cham- that they can inflict just a second league 178th Manchester derby on March 16 but such a crucial Premier League derby, for pions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain defeat of the season on Jurgen Klopp’s side. Chelsea have been banned from signing players for the next two the fixture has now been postponed due to United’s top four aspirations and City’s on February 12. Despite already inspiring his team to transfer windows after FIFA found them guilty of breaching rules both clubs being involved in the FA Cup title ambitions, in the midweek before the Lingard pulled up shortly before half-time wins over Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, relating to the signing of players under the age of 18. that weekend. cup semis at Wembley. in the first leg of the last-16 tie at Old Trafford Solskjaer knows that the big matches can It means Chelsea cannot sign players until the summer of Discussions between the two Man- With United needing to overturn a 2-0 with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, be decided by just one mistake. 2020, but does not affect their ability to release players or bring chester clubs, the Premier League and Champions League first-leg deficit against while Martial was injured earlier in the game “We have to perform better than we back loan players. local authorities had led to plans being Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes and played on until the interval but did not did against PSG,” Solskjaer said. “It’s a FIFA said Chelsea had been found to have “breached article centered on United and City meeting on on March 6, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team reappear for the second half. big game, a big team. We have got to learn 19 of its regulations in the case of 29 minor players and to have either April 2 or 3. are outsiders in their bid to progress to the However, Solskjaer confirmed in his me- from that experience. We have got to stay committed several other infringements relating to registration But with United and Wolves due to meet quarterfinals. dia conference on Friday that both players focused for the whole game. requirements for players.” in the Premier League at Molineux on April But if City continue in the Champions could return to first-team training ahead “Suddenly we are not underdogs any It added that the club had also “breached article 18bis of the 6 -- the date of the first FA Cup semifinal League and reach the latter stages, at the of the fixture against their rivals. more, suddenly people praise us, they think Regulations in connection with two agreements it concluded -- that fixture must also now be re-sched- same time as overcoming Swansea to “We are looking okay,” Solskjaer said. now is the time to play them. concerning minors and which allowed it to influence other clubs uled with one of the two clubs guaranteed book a place in the FA Cup semifinals, Pep “I hope Jesse will be okay. I more hope “All these games are decided on little mar- in transfer-related matters.” a place in the last four. With Wolves and Guardiola’s team will face an increasingly than think Anthony will be okay. gins. That is the deciding factor in these big The club have also been fined £460,000 ($599,000) and given United needing to find a new date in the congested fixture list. “They have got to get through these games.” While their opponents on Sunday are 90 days to “regularise the situations of the players concerned.” calendar for their league game, the two City will have to rearrange their home two sessions, they have not been part of engrossed in an epic battle for the title with Last month it emerged that FIFA’s investigation into Chelsea’s clubs could schedule the fixture on April game against Cardiff City on April 6 if they it [training] yet. They have been doing some Manchester City and Tottenham, United’s transfer dealings had widened to examine arrangements with 2 or 3, potentially forcing the Manchester reach the FA Cup semifinals, with April 2 recovery work. “Every single player has their return to form under Solskjaer has seen them more than 100 foreign players under the age of 18. derby to be pushed back until late April. or 3 and April 23 the only dates currently attributes and I think we showed against climb into the top four - with just a point However, the club said many of the individual cases highlight- No decision on a new date for United available. The Premier League season ends Chelsea that we can manage without them. between them, Arsenal and Chelsea - but ed involved players on short-term trials who were not signed. vs. City is expected to be confirmed until on May 12, with no scope for outstanding “We have got options, it is a big squad the Norwegian insists his attention remains They can contest the judgment with the FIFA appeals com- after the second leg of City’s Champions league fixtures to be played after that date. with good players and everyone is eager firmly on beating Liverpool. mittee and, ultimately, would have the right to take it to the Court League round-of-16 tie against Schalke (Source: ESPN) to play this game. If they [Martial and Lin- (Source: Sky Sports) of Arbitration for Sport. FIFA also found the Football Association in breach of its trans- fer regulations, fining it £390,000 and giving it “a period of six months to address the situation concerning the international Ronaldo has 3 UCL, not 5 - Atleti president transfer and first registration of minors in football.” An FA spokesman said the organization attended to appeal Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has said Cristiano “I’ve got five Champions Leagues, Atletico have none.” 2014 Champions League final win over Atletico, was asked against the GIGA punishment and would “continue to work with Ronaldo should not count the two Champions League titles But speaking to Radio CRC, Cerezo said: “For me, Cris- about Cerezo’s comments at a news conference on Thursday. FIFA and Chelsea in a constructive manner to address the issues he won against the club with Real Madrid. tiano does not have five Champions Leagues but three, and “Why would you not consider them?” he said. “I don’t which are raised by this case.” Juventus forward Ronaldo responded to taunts from for a very simple reason. The two against Atletico Madrid know what to say ... Madrid won those Champions Leagues (Source: Soccernet) Atletico fans in their 2-0 Champions League defeat the he did not win.” deservedly. Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday by holding up five Asked who had won those trophies, the Atletico Ma- “They had a tough opponent, as Atletico have been and fingers to indicate the number of Champions League tro- drid president replied: “We can talk about that in the next are a very strong team. I wish that Atletico can win a Cham- phies he has won. interview.” pions League some day.” Paris wants breakdancing The Portugal international told reporters after the game: Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti, in charge of Real for their (Source: ESPN) and skateboarding at 2024 Olympics IOC urges India isolation after Pakistani athletes denied visas NEW DELHI (Reuters) — The Interna- in time to compete,” the IOC statement said. state, was denied visa for the women’s world Breakdancing is among four new sports being proposed for in- tional Olympic Committee have suspended “As a result, the IOC Executive Board also championships in New Delhi. clusion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. all Indian applications to host future events decided to suspend all discussions with the Boxing’s governing body AIBA criticized Surfing, climbing and skateboarding are the other disci- and urged international sports federations Indian NOC and government regarding the the decision and warned it might reopen the plines put forward by the Paris organizing committee, which not to stage competitions in the country after potential applications for hosting future sports bidding process for the 2021 men’s champi- is looking to create interest in the Games among the younger two Pakistanis were denied visas to compete and Olympic-related events in India,” it said. onship due to take place in India. populations. in New Delhi. The denial of entry visas for The body also urged all international “It’s really unfortunate that it happened Sports to lose out on being proposed were squash, which two shooters due to take part in a World sports federations not to hold events in In- again,” Mehta said. mounted a campaign to be included at the Paris Games, as well Cup event this weekend followed last week’s dia, or grant hosting rights to the country for “I spoke to IOC officials last night and as billiard sports and chess. attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in future competitions, until the government the impression I got is that there could be The four selected sports do have some Olympic pedigree. the disputed region of Kashmir, which killed had provided “clear written guarantees” to more trouble for us. We at IOA will discuss Breakdancing (or breaking), skateboarding and sport climbing at least 40 paramilitary police. ensure access for all athletes. the crisis with the government and try to all appeared as medal events at the Youth Olympic Games in India has accused its neighbor of not do- The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) find a way out.” Buenos Aires in 2018, while skateboarding, sport climbing ing enough to control the militant groups last year laid out an ambitious roadmap to The Pakistani shooters were scheduled to and surfing will make their debuts on the Olympic program responsible for the Kashmir attacks. Pakistan host the Youth Olympics in 2026, the Asian take part in the 25m pistol event and the IOC in Tokyo in 2020. has denied any involvement. Games in 2030 and the Summer Olympics said two spots at next year’s Tokyo Olympics “The IOC restricted the withdrawal of rec- The sports proposed by Paris 2024 will be reviewed by the The IOC said the refusal of visas for com- for the first time in 2032. that had been up for grabs in that competition ognition as an Olympic qualification event to Olympic Program Commission. petitors went against the principles of the “It’s a big setback for sports in the coun- had been revoked. the 25m rapid fire pistol competition in which A recommendation by the Commission will then be presented Olympic charter relating to discrimination and try,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta told The International Shooting Sport Feder- the two Pakistani athletes were supposed to to the IOC Executive Board in March. If accepted, it will then be political interference from the host country. Reuters. “We’ve been in constant touch with ation said on Wednesday it faced “an urgent participate,” it said. presented to the IOC Session. “Since becoming aware of the issue, and the government, trying to explain to them situation as Pakistani athletes cannot get “This happened in the interest of the other After the Session, and following any necessary observation in spite of intense last-minute ... efforts ... and convince them to grant visas to the Pa- entry visas to participate in the competition” 500 athletes from 61 countries participating at the Tokyo 2020 Games, the final event program and athlete and discussions with the Indian government kistani shooters. This is really unfortunate.” because of the Kashmir attack. in the other events who are already in India quotas for the new sports will then be finalized. authorities, no solution has been found to Last year, a boxer from Kosovo, which The IOC said Olympic berths would still for their competition.” (Source: sportsmanagement.co.uk) allow the Pakistani delegation to enter India India does not recognize as an independent be on the line in other events. (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 23, 2019 SPORTS 15

Iran beaten by Iran optimistic about changing host of Women’s Japan in FIBA Olympic Football qualifiers

TASNIM — Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) is optimistic about changing the field of Basketball World the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament 2020 Asian Qualifiers Round 2. The competition has been scheduled to be played in Palestine from April 1-9. Iran have been drawn along Cup qualifie with Chinese Taipei, hosts Palestine, and the Philippines in Group C but the Iranian citizens are banned from SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran na- Jamshidi’s 33 points, but he had little entering Palestine territories. desktional basketball team support as Sajjad Mashayekhi was the lost to Japan 97-89 in the FIBA Basket- only other Iranian player who broke into ball World Cup 2019 Asian qualifiers in double-figures with 13 points. Tehran’s Azadi Hall on Thursday. Makoto Hiejima shone brightest for It’s seven wins in a row for the Akatsuki Japan with 24 points, six assists, four re- Five. The Japanese team moved up to 7-5 bounds and 9-of-13 shooting, and are one win away from FIBA World while added 26 points and Cup qualification. 8 boards. Veteran big man Joji Takeuchi Japan dictated the tempo from wire- also stepped up, hitting a couple of triples to-wire, leading 35-27 after a high scoring en route to 17 points. first quarter and sustaining the momentum Japan had also defeated Iran 70-56 for most of the match. Iran unfurled a in Tokyo in September. furious endgame rally to trim an 18-point Iran now need to win against Australia deficit to just 6, but it was too little too on Sunday to qualify. late. Yuki Togashi’s free throws in the Japan next face Qatar in Doha and aim dying seconds pegged the final count and for their eighth win in a row on Sunday. prevented Iran’s outright qualification Australia, the group’s top team, have for the World Cup. already booked their tickets to China, and Team Melli were paced by Mohammad Iran are aiming to follow suit. And question is: why does Asian Football Confeder- ation select Palestine as host? Palestine football association has experienced this Iran basketball point guard Davoudi ‘’We had to play with confidence.’’ situation in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, where the west Asian football team failed to host Saudi Arabia and bids farewell to national team - Japan’s Makoto Hiejima Malaysia. World football governing body FIFA said that Pal- estine must play its 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Malaysia at the King Hussein Sport City Stadium in Amman, Jordan. FIFA decided the qualifiers needed to be played on neutral ground due to security and safety concerns in the Palestinian territories. FIFA and AFC well know about the Palestine territories’ situation and it seems there is some political intervention to make trouble for Iran football. Now, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has to make decision on changing the host because the Iranian team is not allowed to travel to Palestine territories and it can be harmful for the Persian girls who have progressed well over the years and not participating in the qualifiers is a major setback for them.

Azmoun influential as Zenit SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran na- had a better chance of defeating them Japanese star Makoto Hiejima was His explosive offense took a bit of the desktional basketball team because we must face a greater opponents at the forefront of their hot shooting pressure from the shoulders of natu- progress to the last 16 point guard Aren Davoudi announced like Australia,” he added. against Iran in the FIBA World Cup ralized big man Nick Fazekas, who was his retirement from international duty. From 2007, Davoudi has been a mem- qualifier and he credits their stellar tasked to carry much of the scoring load ST. PETERSBURG, A brace from Sardar Azmoun and Davoudi bade farewell at the end of the ber of the Iran national basketball team, performance to playing with a high for Japan with the absence of young guns one from Magomed Ozdoev ensured the hosts cruise to match against Japan in the FIBA Basket- but he first played for the team during level of confidence. Rui Hachimura and . victory after regulation period. ball World Cup 2019 Asian qualifiers in their second consecutive gold medal run “We had to play with confidence even “I was really focused on scoring, and Iran forward Sardar Azmoun handed Zenit St Peters- Tehran’s Azadi Hall on Thursday, where at the FIBA Asia Championship 2009 if we were missing Rui Hachimura and I didn’t think too much about anything burg a thrilling 3-2 aggregate success against Fenerbahce. Team Melli lost to Akatsuki Five 97-89. in Tianjin, China. He saw action in six Yuta Watanabe,” he said. else during the game,” he explained. Goals from Magomed Odzoev and Azmoun gave Zenit “I think it was time to say goodbye. of nine games off the bench. The veteran wingman knew he had “I knew that they would really defend a 2-0 lead against Fenerbahce to put them on course for We have so many young players who Four years later in the Philippines, to step up for the Akatsuki Five, who Nick tough, and that created a lot of a last-16 berth after a 1-0 first-leg defeat in Istanbul. need to sghow their potentials. I hope Davoudi was a member of Team Melli needed a win over Iran to take the inside opportunities for other guys like me Their progress looked in peril after Mehmet Topal they can progress well,” Davoudi said. and helped the team win the FIBA Asia track in World Cup qualification. The to shoot. Even when Nick’s shots were hauled the Turkish side back into the tie shortly before Davoudi also congratulated the Jap- Championship for the second time in 28-year-old rose to the challenge with going in, we knew it was still going to halftime but livewire Azmoun sealed the win in the 76th anese team for their good performance a row. aplomb, scoring 24 points on 9-of-13 be a difficult game to win, and we had minute. against Iran. Davoudi also took a silver medal at the shooting on top of 6 rebounds, 4 assists to keep on attacking.” (Source: Eurosport) “They were amazing. But I think we 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. and 2 three-pointers. (Source: Fiba. Basketball) Jahanbakhsh can’t believe he missed 14 weeks Peace, Friendship int’l Alireza Jahanbakhsh cannot quite believe he missed Having got out of the group, Iran eased past Oman Wushu Championship to be 14 weeks of his first Premier League season. 2-0 with Jahanbakhsh on target. After all, he thought he was only going in for a They beat China 3-0 but then lost by the same score held in Zahedan routine check-up the morning after defeat at Everton. to Japan in the semis. The idea was to see the medical team after feeling Jahanbakhsh was asked whether that time train- IRNA — The third international tournament of Wushu what he thought was cramp in the final seconds at ing and relaxing in warm temperatures helped his Cup of Peace and Friendship hosted by Sistan and Bal- Goodison Park. recovery from injury. uchestan will be held in Zahedan. Things did not quite turn out how he expected. He said: “That doesn’t matter because, as a pro- The tournament will be held in two sectors of male and A hamstring problem kept him out for his club and fessional, you have to be ready to play for the country female with the participation of Palestine, Iraq, India, limited his contribution to Iran’s Asian Cup campaign. and the club. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Sistan and Baluchestan Now, after a painstaking return to fitness and some “I was there doing my things for the national team but teams as commemorations of the Quds Force Martyrs disappointment with Iran, he is back in the thick of I was also looking forward to getting back to my club. and commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Islamic things and ready to help the Seagulls move away from “Now, finally, I am back. It was a little bit of a dis- Revolution victory in Iran. the drop zone. appointing result in the semi-final for us but I just The tournament will be held on March 2-4 in the sports Jahanbakhsh is eyeing his first Prem start since put it behind me and now I’m back and trying to do complex of Imam Ali in Zahedan. early November after FA Cup outings against West my best for the club.” The Wushu Federation of Iran is one of the few fed- Brom and Derby. Jahanbakhsh enjoyed his two cup starts and was erations in the field of hosting two international events Back on that afternoon at Everton, he took corners also sent on in a rescue mission in the league defeat (Pars Cup and the Peace and Friendship Cup). Now Iran, which led to goals for both teams and had a curler to Burnley. as the world champion and one of the main pillars of this tipped over by Jordan Pickford near the end. The latter came exactly 14 weeks after his previous field, is trying to expand Wushu in the region. He did a couple of interviews in the tight, mind- came up to international duty and I had to go. It was Prem minutes, on that fateful afternoon on Merseyside. your-head confines of the old main stand at Goodison official time that I had to leave the club. He said: “It was good. The gaffer wanted me to and told The Argus he had felt some discomfort in the “Probably it wasn’t the right time because I was play at No.10 at West Brom and now on the left side. back of his thigh. really looking forward to getting back to full fitness “It’s good to be flexible and play different positions Lee Harry Erwin returns to Asked about the problem, he sounded fairly un- and playing in games for the club. and it’s good to be back. concerned as he told us: “In the last sprint, I just felt “But I had to go and play internationals which was “It doesn’t matter as long as you are playing, getting Tractor Sazi a little bit kind of cramp in my hamstring but we will important for the country back home.” good minutes, playing with the boys, which is always have to check it tomorrow. Hopefully it is not some- That is what many Albion fans might have been a good feeling. PLDC — Tractor Sazi Scottish striker Lee Harry Erwin, thing really bad.” thinking – get back to playing for your club. “Scoring a goal is a target I am looking forward to. who had left the Iranian club in November after feelings Actually, it turned out to be something quite bad. But that is to hugely under-estimate and disrespect “There have been opportunities but it is not like of homesickness, returned to the team on Thursday. His season was put on hold although, even then, it was what the Asian Cup means to the nations involved. every ball is going in. The 24-year-old forward, who joined the Tabriz-based not clear how much football he would miss. Iran have a huge, passionate support and were “I tried a couple of times at West Brom and also football team in August, left his team for the international Jahanbakhsh said: “I didn’t expect it to be that long among the favourites in the United Arab Emirates. against Derby but it will come, I am pretty sure.” break but didn’t return to Tractor Sazi. but it kept me out for more than eight or nine weeks. Those fans probably saw it as rather inconvenient When it does, it will probably catch the eye of the Erwin scored a winner against Sepidrood in Iran Pro- “It just happens and it’s part of football. Once I that one of their main players had picked up an injury Iran coach – whoever that might be. fessional League as a substitute and his hat-trick against was fit, I had to go for international duties so it was with his club ahead of a major tournament. Queiroz has moved on to take charge of Colombia, Zob Ahan saw Tractor Sazi an important win. a tough time, to be honest. Iran coach Carlos Queiroz was careful with Jahan- leaving a new incumbent for Jahanbakhsh and com- He has scored the fastest-ever Iran league hat trick “Mentally and physically, it was a tough time but I just bakhsh, leaving him out of the first two group fixtures. patriots to impress. in eight minutes. passed that difficulty and now I am in good form. I feel The winger said: “It was a risk to play probably at The Albion man said: “They don’t say any names Erwin, who has played in Scotland youth levels, started good, I need to play more games to get back to confidence. the beginning but they were really careful with me but everybody is looking forward to seeing who is next. his club career in Motherwell in 2012. “It was a rupture in the right leg. Just a normal and they also promised the club they were going to “The last coach was there for eight years and we He was welcomed by Tractor Sazi officials in his return. hamstring doesn’t take that long but it took more look after me and not force anything “In the first two did a good job in the national team, winning games The 188cm striker has also played at Leeds United than normal for me. games, I didn’t play and in the third I started but I and in tournaments. and Kilmarnock. “Even before I went to the Asian Cup, I was fit but wasn’t playing 90 minutes. It was 65 or 70 minutes “Now expectation is high to having a good coach Lee Erwin and Irish Anthony Stokes is a Briton pair it was a risk probably to re-injure it. which helped me be at full fitness because we had to for the national team.” can help Tractor Sazi win Iran Professional League for “The gaffer didn’t take that risk with me and it play every three or four days, which was quite tough.” (Source: The Argus) the first time. Prayer Times Noon:12:18 Evening: 18:12 Dawn: 5:15 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:41 (tomorrow) FEBRUARY 23, 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: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Damonfar Visual Arts Festival Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 opens at Tehran’s Mellat Cineplex Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 ARTTEHRAN – The Webmaster: [email protected] desk7th edition of the Printed at: Hamshahri No. 3 - ISSN: 1017-94 Damonfar Visual Arts Festival, dedicated to artists under 25 years of age, opened Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily at Tehran’s Mellat Cineplex on Friday. “A selection of 110 paintings by 57 No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran artists have been put on view at the P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713 biennial this year,” Damonfar Managing Director Seifollah Puya-Rad said in a press release published last week. The best artist of this year’s biennial will be announced during a special ceremony on March 1. Veteran Iranian painter and art expert Aidin Aghdashlu is presiding over the biennial jury, which is composed of Farah Osuli, Bita Fayyazi, Hooman Mortazavi, Iman Afsarian and Hormoz GUIDE TO Hemmatian. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING The top artist of the festival will get an opportunity to travel to Germany to Remove badness from another’s breast by visit the Faber-Castell factory. The art festival is organized by uprooting it from your own. the Damonfar Company, the Iranian Imam Ali (AS) representative of France’s Pebeo and Germany’s Faber-Castell, two companies that manufacture art materials. The event, which will be running until March 8, is also organized in WHAT’S IN ART GALLERIES collaboration with Tasvire Shahr Painting Institute, a cultural organization based An exhibition of paintings in Tehran, and European manufacturers by Mohammad-Hadi Fadavi is of fine art products Winsor & Newton, Art aficionados visit the 6th edition of the Damonfar Visual Arts Festival on view at Tehran’s Mellat Cineplex on January 16, 2017. underway at Artibition Gallery. Quilo and Canson. (Honaronline/Mojtaba Arabzadeh) The exhibition will be running until March 4 at the gallery that can be found at Qandi Alley, Japanese films to go University of Tehran to honor Polish Sasanipur St., Golnabi St., off Shariati Ave. on screen in Tehran orientalist Anna Krasnowolska Paintings by Kimia Bornash, ARTTEHRAN – Four ARTTEHRAN – A number Shakiba Jalili, Hilda Jamali and deskmovies by Japanese deskof Iranian literati will Hannaneh Niksirat are on display filmmakers will go on screen during a come together in a session at the University of in an exhibition at Negar Gallery. program at the Embassy of Japan and Tehran on Saturday to honor Polish orientalist The exhibit titled “I Drew My Iran’s Farabi Cinema Foundation in Anna Maria Krasnowolska, the university Dream” runs until February 27 at Tehran on February 28 and 29. announced last week. the gallery located at 33 Delaram Among the films are the animated Born in 1949, Krasnowolska is the head Alley, Roshanai St. in the Qeit- movies “Rudolf the Black Cat” co-directed of the Department of Iranian Studies at arieh neighborhood. by Kunihiko Yuyama and Motonori the Institute of Oriental Philology of the Saye Gallery is playing host Sakakibara, “Pop in Q” by Naoki Miyahara Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. to an exhibition of paintings by and “Your Name” by Makoto Shinkai. She is also a member of the Committee Ali Rahimi. In addition “Samurai Cat” co-directed of Oriental Sciences of the Polish Academy The exhibit named “Paradox” by Yoshitaka Yamaguchi and Takeshi of Sciences. will run until February 27 at the Watanabe will also be screened during She has conducted several research studies gallery located at No. 21, 13th Al- the program. on Persian poet Ferdowsi’s masterpiece ley, Sanai St. off Karim Khan Ave. The program has been organized in Shahnameh and Persian literature, culture A collection of paintings by collaboration with the Japan Foundation A scene from “Samurai Cat” co-directed and mythology. Krasnowolska presides over the Department of Ancient Cultures and Abolfazl Tavassoli is on display in to celebrate 90 years of diplomatic by Yoshitaka Yamaguchi and Takeshi a team translating the Shahnameh. Languages and the Faculty of Human Sciences an exhibition at Shalman Gallery. relations between Iran and Japan. Watanabe. The program has been organized by and Literature at the University of Tehran. The exhibit entitled “My City Is Nearby” runs until February 27 at the gallery located at 27 Kavusi Alley, West Rudbar St., off Mirdamad Blvd. HarperCollins to publish Iranian writer’s debut English novel Paintings by Arman Yaqub- ARTTEHRAN – HarperCollins Publishers, He has published hundreds of articles in Iranian pur are on display in an exhibition deskthe world’s second-largest consumer book newspapers and magazines on literature and politics, two at Golestan Gallery. publisher located in New York, plans to publish Iranian novels, a collection of stories, and a book of nonfiction The exhibition will be running writer Amir Ahmadi Arian’s first novel written in English. on the state of Iranian literature in the new millennium. until March 6 at the gallery, which “Then the Fish Swallowed Him” will be released in 2020, He left Iran in 2011 to undertake a Ph.D. in comparative can be found at 34 Kamasai St. in he wrote on his Twitter page on last Wednesday. literature at the University of Queensland, Australia. He the Darus neighborhood. New York-based Ahmadi Arian started his writing career also earned an MFA in the New York University Creative An exhibition of paintings as a journalist in Iran in 2000, while an undergraduate Writing Program. He is now teaching literature and creative by Ahmad Nasrollahi is currently engineering student at the University of Tehran. From writing at the City College of New York. underway at Hoor Gallery. 2002 he began writing fiction and translating novels by E.L His short stories “The Vermin”, “Call of the Flesh” and The exhibit will run until Doctorow, Paul Auster, P.D. James and Cormac McCarthy A poster for the 200th anniversary of HarperCollins “The War Museum” written in English have previously March 11 at the gallery located into Persian. Publishers. been published in various magazines. at 12 Naeimi Alley, North Mirza Shirazi St., off Motahhari Ave. Zohreh Olfati, Homa Ta- vakoli, Shamsi Yari and three Persian miniature added to national heritage list, other artists are displaying their latest paintings in an exhibition at Haft Samar Gallery. artists hailed as Living Human Treasures The exhibit entitled “Charsu” ARTTEHRAN – Persian Human Treasures, the Cultural Heritage, Treasures. runs until February 27 at the gal- deskminiature was Tourism and Handicrafts Organization Earlier in January 2018, Persian music lery located at No. 8, Fifth Alley, registered on the National Intangible announced on Wednesday. instrument maker Ebrahim Qanbari-Mehr, Kuh-e Nur St., Motahari Ave. Cultural Heritage list as several artists, Rabab and daf virtuoso Bijan Kamkar tombak virtuoso Mohammad Esmaeili including miniature master Mahmud and Kurdish sorna player Ali-Akbar Bahari and Ashiq Saljuq Shahbazi received the Multimedia Farshchian, were added to the list as Living were other artists hailed as Living Human honor. A miniature painting by Mahmud Farshchian. A group of artists, includ- ing Alireza Adambakan, Vahik Hartunian, Behnam Kamrani, Zarvan Ruhbakhshan and Narges Jackson estate says HBO film violates From street kids to war romance, Soleimanzadeh, is showcasing their paintings and photos in an non-disparagement contract: lawsuit Oscar foreign-film slate keeps it real exhibition at Ace Gallery. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — The estate of that time or in the future. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — From Leb- in Beverly Hills on Thursday to talk about The exhibit runs until Febru- Michael Jackson filed a lawsuit on Thursday The estate is seeking to enforce a clause in anese street children to love behind the Iron their works. ary 27 at the gallery located at against HBO saying that its documentary about the 1992 contract saying it entitles the estate Curtain and the daily life of a Mexican house- Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski was No. 1831 Shariati Ave. near the allegations of child abuse by the late singer to arbitrate the dispute. keeper, this year’s Oscar-nominated foreign inspired by the love life of his parents for “Cold Qeitarieh neighborhood. breached a previous agreement by the cable “Despite the desperate lengths taken to un- language films draw from real life and, in some War,” a dark romance between a pianist and a channel not to disparage him. dermine the film, our plans remain unchanged,” cases, deeply personal experiences. singer set in both Communist-led Poland and Jewelry The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior HBO said in a statement on Thursday. “HBO While Poland’s “Cold War” and Germa- postwar France. The lead characters, Wiktor A collection of jewelry by Court, said HBO could owe more than $100 will move forward with the airing of the two- ny’s “Never Look Away” are set decades ago, and Zula, are named after his parents. Torang Daneshmand is on view in million in damages for what the estate called part documentary on March 3rd and 4th. This Japan’s “Shoplifters” and Lebanon’s “Caper- “It was very personal to start with because an exhibition at CAMA – Contem- the network’s “reprehensible disparagement” will allow everyone the opportunity to assess naum” take on contemporary themes, while that’s where the idea came from,” Pawlikowski porary and Modern Art Gallery. of the “Thriller” singer in the documentary. the film and the claims in it for themselves.” “Roma” is the most personal film ever made said. “It’s inspired by the tempestuous and Entitled “And Horse, Do You Documentary “Leaving Neverland” is The singer’s family last month called the by Alfonso Cuaron. chaotic relationships which involved many Remember”, the exhibit runs due to be broadcast on AT&T owned HBO documentary and news coverage of the ac- “Roma,” based on Cuaron’s 1970s childhood divorces, separations, marrying other people, until February 27 at the gallery on March 3 and 4 after a world premiere at cusations in it a “public lynching” and said in Mexico City’s Colonia Roma neighborhood, remarrying, moving countries and so on.” located at No. 44, 10th Golestan, the Sundance film festival last month. Jackson was “100 percent innocent.” is seen as the favorite to take not only the foreign Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck also Pasdaran St. In the documentary, two men who are Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the language Oscar on Sunday but could make looked back to World War Two for “Never Look now in their 30s, say they were befriended Jackson estate, said in a statement on Thurs- history by also winning best picture. Away.” The story about a struggling artist in Graphic design by Jackson and were abused by him starting day that HBO “could have and should have The film, shot entirely in black and white, is Nazi-era Germany and then Communist-ruled Dena Gallery is playing from when they were 7 and 10 years old. ensured that ‘Leaving Neverland’ was properly inspired by the two women who raised Cuaron: East Germany spans four decades. host to an exhibition of graphic Jackson, who died in 2009, was acquitted sourced, fact checked and a fair and balanced his mother and a domestic worker. Donnersmarck was born in West Germany designs by Yurik Karim Masihi. at a 2005 criminal trial in California. representation.” “The source material were my memories, but in 1973 and partly grew up in the United States. The exhibit entitled “I Wrote The lawsuit does not seek to prevent the He said the network had “breached its then the film took on its own life,” Cuaron said. Donnersmarck said he wanted to “see how These Two Letters” will continue broadcast of the documentary but says it vi- agreement not to disparage Michael Jack- “Now my memories are tainted by the film.” within one family drama you have the mur- until March 4 at the gallery locat- olates a 1992 contract for HBO’s broadcast of son by producing and selling to the public a Cuaron and the filmmakers behind the derers and the victims and the Nazis and those ed at 4 Sussan Alley off Qarani St. Jackson’s “Dangerous” world tour, in which one-sided marathon of unvetted propaganda other movies nominated for a foreign language whom they abused and killed and destroyed the network agreed not to disparage him at to shamelessly exploit an innocent man.” Oscar were scheduled to attend a reception living under one roof.”