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16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 38th year No.13052 Sunday FEBRUARY 18, 2018 Bahman 29, 1396 Jumada Al thani 1, 1439 Velayati: U.S. trying to Backing Assad Ashkan Dejagah Unacknowledged Fajr create ‘new Middle East’ was ’s best decision: sidelined up to films triumphant at to break up nations 2 advisor 2 eight weeks: Report 15 Qoqnus Screen Awards 16

Trade between Iran, EU grows 53% in 2017 Civilizational relationship ECONOMY — Iran-Eu- 85 percent increase in comparison with the deskropean Union trade in preceding year when Europeans imported See page 2 2017 increased by 53 percent in comparison €5.5 billion of Iranian goods. with the year before, according to Euro- Iran’s imports from Europe in 2017 pean Union’s statistics agency Eurostat. augmented 31 percent and reached €10.8 Eurostat announced that the value billion, from its previous €8.2 billion in of trade between Iran and the European 2016. Union member states in 2017 stood at Iran-European Union trade balance in €21 billion, Tasnim news agency reported 2017 was €600 million in favor of Europe. on Saturday. Trade between Iran and European Un- Europe’s imports from Iran stood at ion was €13.7 billion in 2016, showing 78 €10.2 billion in the said time, registering percent rise from that in 2015.

Iran health minister appointed WHO commissioner on NCDs SOCIETY TEHRAN — Irani- According to the WHO official website, deskan Health Minister the first ever WHO Independent Global Hassan Qazizadeh-Hashemi has re- High-level Commission on NCDs, aiming cently been appointed as the World to propose practical ways to fight the world Health Organization’s commissioner leading causes of death and illnesses was for Independent Global High-level announced in 2017, by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Commission on Non-Communicable Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO and Diseases (NCDs). will run until October 2019. 12

Agreements signed to boost NATO, Germany back Iran economic, agricultural, nuclear deal POLITICS At the high-profile who was delivering a speech at the MSC deskMunich Security conference on Saturday, said the United development co-op 4 Conference, NATO Secretary General States should respect its commitments to Jens Stoltenberg and German Foreign the nuclear deal. Minister have supported Speaking at the opening session the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially of the security conference on Friday, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan Stoltenberg also said NATO prioritizes of Action. the full implementation of the nuclear president.ir According to Deutsche Welle, Gabriel, agreement. 2 ARTICLE Zarif: Rouhani’s India visit cements ‘centuries-old friendship’ ARTICLE By Hanif Ghaffari POLITICS TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Economic Affairs , Oil By Sajad Abedi Political analyst deskMinister Mohammad Javad Minister , Transport and Political analyst Zarif has said that President ’s Urban Development Minister Abbas Akhoundi, visit to India cemented “centuries-old friendship” Industry and Commerce Minister Mohammad between the two countries. Shariatmadari and Presidential Chief of Staff “President Hassan Rouhani State visit to . From Davos to India resulted in many agreements on trade Rouhani met with Indian Prime Minister Modern and cooperation, but more importantly, firmly Narendra Modi on Saturday. Munich cemented centuries-old friendship between our During the visit, Iran and India signed 9 management and he remarks made by European officials two nations,” Zarif tweeted on Saturday. documents to boost cooperation in key areas of requirements in the at the Munich Security Conference Rouhani started his three-day tour of India security, trade and energy. show that they are worried about the on Thursday by first arriving in the southern In a meeting with religious scholars and leaders age of information T city of Hyderabad and then in New Delhi on of the Islamic community of Hyderabad, Rouhani future of Europe (given America’s policies). Undoubtedly, Donald Trump’s presence at Friday night. Minister Narendra Modi. He was accompanied said that he bears the message of friendship and ndoubtedly, the creation of com- the top of the political and executive equa- He took the visit at the invitation of Prime by Foreign Minister Zarif, Vice President for brotherhood to the people of India. patibility in different aspects of tions of the United States has exacerbated Uthe organization with environ- this concern. An overview of the views and mental changes and the use of tools that attitudes of European officials during the Sheikh Tamim: blockade ‘futile’ are increasingly available to managers Davos and Munich Conference and their with the advancement of technology An ongoing blockade of Qatar by a House of “Those aggressive actors wish to use smaller like Qatar,” Sheilkh Tamim said in his Munich comparison with each other suggests that the is not only necessary, but the life of Saud regime-led group of states is “futile”, the states as pawns within their power games and Security Conference address. security, economic, and political concerns organizations in today’s volatile and Qatari emir has said, warning that the months- sectarian conflicts.” “Preserving the sovereignty and the inde- of European countries have not only not turbulent environments depends on long crisis is undermining the region’s security Despite the measures against it, Qatar has pendent decision making of countries like Qatar diminished but are increasing. this. Managers may pursue new or- and economic outlook. developed new international trade routes and ensures accelerated development - development During the World Economic Summit in ganizational designs with different The House of Saud regime, the United Arab accelerated economic diversity, Sheikh Tamim like free media and free speech that the blockading Davos, the Chancellor of Germany and the motivations. Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt cut diplo- added. countries insist we surrender.” President of France both gave a significant Different ages have different funda- matic ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017 and im- On June 22, 2017, the quartet issued a 13-point warning about the return of nationalism Middle East security mentals. Information and communica- posed a land, sea and air embargo, accusing it list of demands, including the shutdown of Qa- and populism to Europe. This warning Sheikh Tamim also called for a comprehensive tion technology is one of the important of supporting “terrorism”. has repeatedly tar-based media network Al Jazeera, limiting has been sent in a time when Far-Right security settlement in the Middle East, saying features of the information age that denied the allegation. ties with Iran and expelling Turkish troops sta- movements in Europe have been able to the region must be brought back from the brink allows the design of new organizational “It has been a futile crisis, manufactured by tioned in the country as a prerequisite to lifting gain unbelievable power and even seek of disaster. forms, new control systems, the re-en- our neighbors,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al the blockade. to conquer a majority of parliaments and “I believe it is time for wider regional security gineering of organizational processes, Thani told a major security conference held in Qatar rejected all the demands, de- form governments. in the Middle East ... for all nations of the region and so on. The signs of the informa- Germany. nouncing them as attempts to infringe its In her speech, Angela Merkel empha- to forget the past and agree on basic security prin- tion age are seen everywhere. Personal “By defusing the impact of the illegal and sovereignty. sized that the twentieth century’s mistake ciples and rules of governance,” he said, adding computers, interactive media, global aggressive measures imposed on our people, “It is vital to the interests of the people of the shouldn’t be repeated. By this, the German that a future governance model for the region communications networks, e-publica- Qatar has preserved its sovereignty,” he said. Middle East to guarantee the sovereignty of states Chancellor meant the tendency of Europe- ought to be based on the European Union. 13 tions, digital libraries, and the like are an countries to nationalism. Although the an expression of the information age. German Chancellor warning was serious The amount of information generated and necessary, the warning seems to be in the past two decades alone is greater a little late. Perhaps it would have been than all information produced in the better if the warning was forwarded after A heaven for last millennium. The role of informa- the European Parliamentary elections in tion professionals in the new age has 2014, and subsequently, more practical migratory become important because they are and deterrent measures were designed. aware of how organizations organize, However, Merkel and other European manage and exploit the information leaders ignored the representation of birds assets of organizations and can reveal over a hundred right-wing extremist in the strategic value of information for the European Parliament in 2014 and Flocks of migratory geese are shown at a all organizations. merely saw it as a kind of social excitement. wetland habitat situated in Iran’s north- The economy that are wealthy knowl- This social excitement has now become ern Mazandaran province, February 16, edge and information workers produce a “political demand” in the West. The dis- 2018. Captured by Gholamreza Rezaei and often well-known for information-based satisfaction of European citizens with their resealed by IRNA, the picture belongs to economies. In such economies, GDP is governments has caused them to explicitly a photo collection that depicts various generated through the creation, pro- demand the return to the twentieth cen- wildlife refuges dotted along the south cessing, and transfer of information. An tury and the time before the formation of Caspian Sea region. economy based on information economy, the United Europe. The recent victories of The wetlands will remain dominated by the vast majority of its activities include right wing extremists in Austria, Germany its northerly guests until about mid-May information work, employing knowledge and…, isn’t merely the result of the nation- when the migration season comes to an and information workers, and the wealth alist movement success in introducing its end. They host hundreds of birdwatchers, of its information economy depends on backpackers, and bird buffs as well. the productivity of the knowledgeable

principles and manifestos. But it is also a Gholamreza Rezaei result of the failure of the “European mod- The mid-winter population of the mi- employees. Information-based econ- eration” policy to resolve social, security gratory birds is estimated to exceed over omies are dependent on the creation and economic problems in the Eurozone IRNA/ a million in the whole sandy shorelines and use of information and information and the European Union. 7 that add up to 700km. systems. 7 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS FEBRUARY 18, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Zarif in Germany for Civilizational relationship Munich Security Iran, India ink many deals, vow to strengthen ties Conference By Syed Zafar Mehdi Iranian leaders, especially Supreme Leader NEW DELHI — Reiterating their commit- Sayed and President Rou- POLITICS TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad hani, have been very vocal and powerful deskJavad Zarif is scheduled to visit Germany ment to strengthen bilateral ties and take their ‘civilizational relationship’ to the advocates of Muslim unity. on Saturday night to participate in the 54th edition of the Rouhani’s visit to India comes a month Munich Security Conference (MSC), Foreign Ministry said next level, President Hassan Rouhani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- on Saturday. tanyahu’s first official trip to India and The foreign minister will deliver a speech at the MSC on held wide-ranging talks on cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, days after Modi’s whirlwind four-nation Sunday about the most important regional and international tour of West Asia and the Persian Gulf security issues. energy, connectivity, defense and se- curity and regional issues in New Delhi region. The growing proximity between Zarif also plans to hold talks with top officials of other New Delhi and Tel Aviv in recent years countries participating in the MSC. on Saturday. Rouhani, who was on his first visit to has raised many eyebrows in India and From Friday until Sunday, over 30 heads of state and abroad. Regional observers believe the government and over 100 cabinet ministers from across India since assuming office in 2013, flew to New Delhi from the southern Indian Modi government is playing with fire by the globe come together at the MSC to discuss major inter- mollycoddling a ‘Frankenstein monster’, national security challenges. city of Hyderabad on Saturday morn- ing. He was accompanied by a high-level which can prove counterproductive to 21-member delegation, including Foreign India’s global ambitions. Pertinently, Ne- Backing Assad Minister Javad Zarif. tanyahu was greeted with street protests was Iran’s best Before the bilateral talks, Rouhani was across India, while President Rouhani given a state reception at the Rashtrapati was accorded warm reception in both decision: advisor Bhavan (President’s house) where he Hyderabad and New Delhi. also met President Ram Nath Kovind. Iran and India have shared age-old He said the people of Iran and India historical, commercial and cultural ties. have had “friendly relations with each Iran has been the main supplier of crude oil POLITICS TEHRAN — Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a other” since many centuries and this to India even at the peak of Western sanc- desksenior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian century belongs to Asia in which the tions between 2012 and 2016. Although parliament speaker, has said that helping Bashar Assad’s two neighboring countries have a key the volume of business was affected by government in Syria was the best decision that Iran could role to play. the crippling sanctions, the partnership make to repel threats. Following the bilateral talks, the two only became stronger. Since Modi’s visit In an interview with Mehr news agency published on leaders issued a joint statement, outlining Prime Minister Modi says the enhanced to Iran in May 2016, when New Delhi Saturday, Amir Abdollahian said if Iran had not helped Syria their vision for the future of India-Iran and Tehran renewed many key business and its allies, terrorists would have poured into Iran. cooperation between India and Iran will ties. Modi said the two countries want deals and signed a trilateral agreement He also said, “If the U.S. does not interfere and allows the to enhance cooperation in various are- hugely benefit their immediate neighbor on transit and transport between India, political talks in Astana and Sochi to reach a conclusion, a as and deepen bilateral ties. He lauded – Afghanistan. Modi also notes Iran and Iran and Afghanistan, the two countries political solution can be found and the refugees will return Rouhani’s vision of giving access for trade have significantly enhanced their bilateral to their country.” India share the same vision for peace and with landlocked Afghanistan through ties. The trade volume was estimated to Chabahar Port and hoped the bond be- prosperity in the region. be $12.89 billion dollar in 2017-2018, according to figures provided by India’s Officials have tween the people of India and Iran will country’s willingness to share its vast On Friday, he joined worshippers at grow stronger with easier visa norms Foreign Ministry. promised to end oil and natural gas resources with India Hyderabad’s historic Makkah Masjid to The export of crude oil has substan- and educational ties. and offered to simplify visa norms for offer joint Shia-Sunni congregational Modi said the enhanced cooperation tially increased in last one year, mak- house arrest by hassle-free people-to-people ties. The two prayers. He also became the first head ing Iran the third largest oil exporter between India and Iran will hugely benefit sides also agreed on ‘rupee-rial mecha- of a state to deliver address at the 17th their immediate neighbor – Afghani- for India. According to energy experts, March 20: Motahari nism’ to evade banking problems caused century mosque. In his brief but beautiful India is slated to become world’s sec- stan, and said the two countries share by the draconian Western sanctions. speech, President Rouhani, who is also a POLITICS TEHRAN — Deputy Majlis Speaker Ali same vision for peace and prosperity ond-largest consumer of hydrocarbons deskMotahari said on Saturday that judiciary In a warm gesture, following the talks distinguished scholar of Islam, empha- in three decades so future appears bright in the region. and signing of agreements, Rouhani gifted sized the importance of upholding the and security officials have promised to end the house arrest Rouhani, in his brief talk, said the two for Indo-Iran energy partnership. against opposition leaders by the end of the current calendar an animated version of Kalila Wa Dem- banner of unity and bridging the growing While the ambitious deal on India’s countries have reached good understand- na (Persian translation of Panchtantra) chasm between Shias and Sunnis. year, which ends on March 20. ing on the Chabahar Port and cooperation investment in Farzad B offshore gas field, Speaking to reporters, Motahari said certain measures and a copy of the Mahabharat in Persian The enthusiastic audience, which in- with gas reserve of 21.7 tcf, has failed in the areas of energy, petroleum and gas to Modi. cluded Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief have been taken in recent months in this regard. “We are will also improve significantly. to make headway, all eyes are now on waiting to see if they deliver what they promised,” Motahari Rouhani kicked off his three-day visit to Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali Chabahar Port in Sistan-Baluchistan The two sides signed nine agreements, India on Thursday from Hyderabad, a city and highly influential Hyderabad MP said, according ISNA. with strong focus on the strategically impor- province, which was inaugurated in Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife, Zahra designed on the pattern of Iran’s Asaduddin Owaisi, latched on to every December last year, shortly after the tant Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran. by legendary Iranian architect Mir Momin word he had to say about Muslim unity, Rahnavard, were placed under house arrest after they in- The agreements signed include double first consignment of wheat was sent sisted on their claims of vote rigging and called for protests. Ashtarabadi. He visited the historic Qutub peaceful co-existence, Western imperi- from India to Afghanistan. India has taxation avoidance agreement, MOU on Shahi tombs, built in Persian architecture alism and Indo-Iran historic ties. exemption of visa requirements for diplo- committed to invest $500 million in the by Qutub Shahi dynasty rulers who had This is perhaps for the first time a project, besides an additional $16 billion Russia, U.S. matic passport holders, exchange of instru- Iranian ancestry. He also visited Salar foreign leader from a Muslim country ment of ratification of extradition treaty, investment in Chabahar free trade zone. Jung Museum, Golconda Fort and held has started his India visit from a historic The port connects India with Afghani- compete in Syria: lease contract for Shahid Beheshti Port a series of interactions with students and mosque and made Muslim unity and – Phase 1 of Chabahar Port between PMO stan and opens a new strategic transit military advisor religious scholars. brotherhood his main talking point. It route to many Central Asian countries, and IPGL, MOU on cooperation in the field Addressing a gathering of Muslim is significant and timely considering the of traditional systems of medicine, MOU bypassing Pakistan. leaders and scholars in Hyderabad, Rou- problems Muslims are facing in India and According to sources, the develop- on the establishment of an expert group on hani hailed India as a “living example across the world with growing specter POLITICS TEHRAN — Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top trade remedy measures to promote coop- ment of Farzad B gas field by Indian deskmilitary adviser to the Leader, said on Sat- of peaceful co-existence”, and called for of Islamophobia and hate crimes. In companies figured prominently in talks eration in areas of mutual interest, MOU Shia-Sunni unity while warning of plots such an environment, unity becomes urday that Syria and Iraq have been the scene of geostrategic on cooperation in the field of agriculture between the two sides on Saturday. Iran competitions between the U.S. and Russia. and conspiracies being hatched in the indispensable. had some reservations and sought new and allied sectors, MOU on cooperation West to divide Muslims. He said Iran Muslim unity is also crucial to counter In a conference on the Syrian conflict, Rahim Safavi, in the field of health and medicine, MOU terms of the deal. the former IRGC chief, said western Asia is undergoing ge- wants cordial relations with all coun- the despicable project of sectarianism and Rouhani’s first visit to India marks on postal cooperation. tries in the region, and reiterated his takfirism that is being promoted by cer- opolitical transition, noting that the region will be a place On the sidelines of the visit, some oth- an important turnaround in Indo-Iran of competition for big powers. country’s commitment to strengthen tain powers to sow seeds of discord among relations at a time when the Zionist re- er MOUs between trade bodies were also ties with India. Muslims. Unlike leaders in the Arab world, According to ISNA, he further said regional powers, in- signed, most notably MOU between EEPC gime is sucking up to New Delhi and cluding Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are in competition India and Trade Promotion Organization of some Western powers are trying hard to over influence in Syria and Iraq. Iran, MOU between FICCI India and ICCI- India and Iran agree on ‘rupee- throw a spanner in their ties. Although He also predicted that China and India would also enter MA Iran, MOU between ASSOCHAM India rial mechanism’ to evade banking the U.S. has said it would not come in the fray. and ICCIMA Iran, MOU between PHDCCI the way of India-Iran trade matters, India and ICCIMA Iran. problems caused by the draconian regional watchers believe the devil can Iran, Germany Rouhani had earlier expressed his Western sanctions. never be trusted. ink nuclear safety deal NATO, Germany back Iran nuclear deal 1 “We attach great importance to the Iran Nuclear nuclear deal should remain intact. Deal and it is important that it is fully implemented,” the Iran, the five permanent members of the UN Security POLITICS TEHRAN — Officials from Iran and Ger- Council - the U.S., UK, France, Russia, and China – Ger- desk NATO website quoted Stoltenberg as saying. many on Sunday signed an agreement to Though the entire world insists on the need to respect many and the European Union struck the nuclear deal on promote cooperation between the two countries in the field the nuclear deal, President Donald Trump has been making July 14, 2015. Immediately after the forging of the nuclear of nuclear safety. the harshest attacks on the international agreement. In a agreement, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution The cooperation deal was inked in Tehran by chief of the statement on January 12, Trump gave Europeans only 120 turning the deal into an international law. Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority Hojjatollah Salehi days to agree to an overhaul of the nuclear agreement and Since the JCPOA went into force in January 2016 the and the chairman of German company “Gesellschaft fur said if the text of the deal is not revised he would unilaterally United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency has Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS)”, Tasnim reported. withdraw the U.S. from it. issued nine reports each time confirming Tehran’s complete The signing ceremony was attended by German Ambas- It is the first time that NATO, a Western military alliance compliance with the multilateral agreement. sador to Tehran Michael Klor-Berchtold. which the United States is also a member, is openly expressing According to the agreement, Iran is obliged to put lim- In October, a delegation from the European Union (EU) full support for the nuclear agreement. Stoltenberg Gabriel its on its nuclear activities in exchange for termination of and a team from the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority In remarks in December 217, Stoltenberg also said the nuclear-related sanctions. held meetings to discuss the second cooperation project in the field of nuclear safety. Mohammad Velayati: U.S. trying to create ‘new Middle East’ to break up nations POLITICS TEHRAN – The Unit- “The Americans and Zionists should East, whose reality will be marked by his gratitude to Iran on behalf of the Tavakkoli dies at 34 desked States has been seek- know that as they were defeated in Leba- the disintegration of Muslim societies.” Iraqi government and nation, saying ing to broaden division among Islamic non, Syria and Iraq, their illusions won’t He added that Washington was seeking Iran plays a major role in supporting states and create a “new Middle East” in materialize. The resistance front in Iraq, to split Syria through its presence in the the resistance front in the region. order to break up regional states, says Syria, and Lebanon will push them out of eastern Euphrates. During his visit to Iraq, Velayati also , a senior advisor to the eastern Euphrates,” Press TV quoted On Friday, Velayati met with Iraq’s met on Friday with Ammar al-Hakim, POLITICS TEHRAN — Mohammad Tavakkoli, son desk Leader of the Islamic Revolution Aya- the advisor as saying. Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari in the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of former senior MP Ahmad Tavakkoli, tollah Ali Khamenei. Much of northeast Syria to the east of Baghdad, where he said the U.S. is the of Iraq (ISCI), to exchange views about passed away on Friday night after suffering for three years Velayati made the remarks during a the Euphrates is controlled by the Syr- major problem for the region. the latest political developments in the from liver disease. conference on Islamic unity in the Iraqi ian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is He said Tillerson’s Middle East tour region and ways to boost Tehran-Bagh- Mohammad Tavakkoli, 34, was a photographer, designer capital, Baghdad, on Saturday. He was dominated by rebels from the Kurdish took place following Washington’s fail- dad relations in all areas. and graphic artist. He had a son and a daughter. referring to U.S. Secretary of State Rex People’s Protection Units (YPG) and is ures in many areas. During the meeting, Hakim praised Tavakkoli’s funeral procession is scheduled to be held Tillerson’s recent Middle East tour and backed by the U.S. Pointing to Washington’s policies Tehran’s support for Baghdad in the fight on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. its consequences for the region. Last month, Washington announced toward the region, the advisor said the against terrorist groups and said the Arab In separate messages, Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri, The veteran politician said the Amer- that it would work with the SDF to set up a Islamic Republic is keeping an eye on country is willing to boost its relations Foreign Minister , Health Minister icans were seeking to establish bases new 30,000-strong “border security” force the U.S. actions in the region. with its neighbors, especially Iran. Hassan Qazizadeh-Hashemi, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Ali for the North Atlantic Treaty Organi- along the Turkish border with Iraq and The top adviser also said Iran, Iraq, Iran stood alongside Iraq firmly during Najafi, MPs Mohamamd Reza Aref and Massoud Pezeshkian, zation (NATO) with the help of certain within Syria along the Euphrates River. and Syria will not let the U.S. exert its the fight against Daesh (ISIL), he said, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi, and many other Muslim states to prevent unity among Velayati said the Americans and the influence on the Kurdish areas. adding that the sectarianism is fading top officials offered their condolences to Ahmad Tavakkoli. these countries. West are trying to create “a new Middle Ibrahim al-Jaafari, for his turn, voiced away in favor of an Iraqi national identity. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 18, 2018 INTERNATIONAL Russia: U.S. plans to keep forces inside Kurdish doctors report Syria forever suspected Turkish gas attack Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has censured the in Syria “illegal” military presence of the United States on the ground in Syria, saying Washington plans to keep its forces in the Six civilians suffered breathing difficulties and other symptoms country “forever.” indicative of poison gas inhalation after an attack launched by Lavrov told multilingual news media service Euronews Turkey on the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, local doctors that U.S. Special Forces had been operating on the ground in and Syria’s state-run news agency reported on Saturday. Syria in the past few years without the Syrian government’s Jiwan Mohammad, a doctor at Afrin’s main hospital, said the consent and a United Nations (UN)’s mandate. facility was treating six people who had been poisoned who arrived “They have been there consistently for two or three years — Friday night from the village of Arandi after it was attacked by almost for the whole period that the Washington-led coalition Turkish troops. Another doctor, Nouri Qenber, said the victims has worked in Syria, and all this time, the U.S. Special Forces suffered shortness of breath, vomiting and skin rashes. One of and other units are in Syria on the ground, illegally, without the victims had dilated pupils, he said, quoting one of the rescu- any invitation from , or without any mandate of ers. Both spoke to The Associated Press via messaging service. the UN Security Council,” he said. State-run news agency SANA and the Britain-based so-called The U.S. has been leading a number of countries in an Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group aerial bombardment campaign against purported Islamic also quoted local doctors in their reports. State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) positions in Syria The claims could not be independently confirmed, and videos and Iraq since 2014. But the U.S. has also stationed a number released from the hospital showed people being fitted with oxy- of Special Forces on the ground in Syrian territory. gen masks who did not otherwise show symptoms of gas attack Lavrov warned that “the international presence of the inhalation such as twitching, foaming at the mouth or vomiting. U.S. doesn’t decrease, but rather grows.” SANA on Saturday said Turkey fired several shells containing “It is clear that the U.S. probably has such a strategy to “toxic substances” on a village in Afrin Friday night, causing six settle in Syria forever, with its armed forces, just as they civilians to suffer suffocation symptoms. want to do in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite all promises The Turkish military repeated in a weekly statement published made,” he said. Saturday that it does not use internationally “banned ammuni- He warned that the U.S. was attempting to create a “qua- tion” in its Afrin operation and said, “the Turkish Armed Forces si-local authority” with the help of Syrian Kurds. does not keep such ammunition in its inventory.” “And so when they settle forever in Syria, which they are The army also said it is careful to not harm civilians and already doing now, and despite all promises, they isolate only targets “terrorists” and their positions in the Afrin region. a huge piece of the Syrian territory, in infringement of the The Turkish military launched an aerial and ground offensive sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic, and create there on Afrin, in northwestern Syria, on Jan. 20. It says the aim of some kind of quasi-local authority, and in every possible the operation is to push out the Kurdish militia known as the way try to create there an autonomous unit with the support People’s Protection Units, (YPG/Yekîneyên Parastina Gel), from of the Kurds,” he said. Lavrov said that the Americans have been consistently Russia has also been conducting an aerial bombardment the enclave. Turkey considers the group to be a terrorist group The U.S. announced last month that it would work with arming the Kurdish troops while ignoring Ankara’s “repeated campaign of its own in Syria on a request from the Syrian and an extension of the Kurdish insurgents it fights inside Turkey. the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — a U.S.- warnings” against such a policy. government since September 2015. SANA, as well as Kurdish news outlets including Kurdistan backed group of Kurd and Arab militants — to set up a new “From the very beginning of its actions in Syria, Americans Recently, a U.S. airstrike in Syria was said to have killed a 24, quoted third doctor, Khalil Sabri, at the Afrin hospital as 30,000-strong “border security” force along the Turkish bet on the Kurds and ignored Turkey’s discontent,” he said. number of Russian nationals. Russian Foreign Ministry Maria saying the attack occurred on the village of Aranda and that border with Iraq and within Syria along the Euphrates River. Russia and Turkey, along with Iran, have been brokering Zakharova said “five people, presumably Russian citizens” victims suffered shortness of breath, skin rashes, vomiting and The announcement infuriated Turkey, which soon launched a peace process between Syrian warring parties in the Kazakh were killed, adding that the incident and the nationalities low blood pressure. a military incursion in Syria’s Afrin region in a declared bid capital of Astana. Russia and Iran are Syrian government of the victims were still being investigated. (Source: AP) to eliminate the Kurdish militants on its borders. allies, and Turkey is an ally of the anti-Damascus militants. (Source: Euronews)

U.S. charges Russians with 2016 U.S. election tampering Israeli protesters call for to boost Trump Netanyahu’s resignation over bribery

Reports on U.S. election interference ‘just blather’: Lavrov Thousands of people have staged a demonstration in the occupied The office of the United States Special Coun- vember 2016, Trump won a surprise victory Palestinian territories to demand the resignation of Israeli Prime sel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russians and over Democratic Party candidate Clinton. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after police recommended he be three Russian companies, including St. Pe- Mueller’s indictment did not tie the med- charged with bribery in connection with illegal gifts he received tersburg-based Internet Research Agency dling effort to the Russian government. But from a number of wealthy businessmen. known for its trolling on social media. The the earlier U.S. intelligence assessment said Between 1,000 and 2,000 protesters rallied in a Tel Aviv square, official who oversees Mueller’s work said the Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered some with signs saying “crooks go home” and “crime minister”. investigation was not finished. a campaign to influence the U.S. election. Israeli police investigators have been grilling Netanyahu for The court document said those accused Trump has never unequivocally accepted corruption over his involvement in cases 1000 and 2000. “had a strategic goal to sow discord in the the U.S. intelligence report and has denounced Police said on Tuesday enough evidence had been found for U.S. political system, including the 2016 U.S. Mueller’s probe as a “witch hunt.” the 68-year-old Chairman of the Likud party to be charged. presidential election.” Some of those charged, posing as Ameri- Case 1000 revolves around alleged illicit gifts given to Net- The indictment said Russians adopted cans, “communicated with unwitting individ- anyahu and his family by different businessmen, most notably false online personas to push divisive mes- uals associated with the Trump campaign,” the Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan. sages; traveled to the United States to collect the indictment said. The Israeli prime minister and his wife, Sara, have denied intelligence, visiting 10 states; and staged Last year, Mueller charged Trump’s former wrongdoing in the case, claiming that the value of the items political rallies while posing as Americans. campaign manager and his deputy with mon- was significantly lower than reported, and that they were only In one case, it said, the Russians paid an ey-laundering and other crimes, and accepted “trifles” exchanged between close friends. unidentified person to build a cage aboard a guilty pleas from two former foreign policy Case 2000 focuses on an alleged clandestine deal made be- flatbed truck and another to wear a costume aides for lying to the FBI (Federal Bureau tween Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher and owner “portraying Clinton in a prison uniform.” of Investigation). Arnon “Noni” Mozes, in which the 68-year-old chairman of the The surprise 37-page indictment could Blather Likud party promised Mozes he would support a bill to reduce the alter the divisive U.S. domestic debate over Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Ser- circulation of Yedioth’s main commercial rival, the Hebrew-lan- Russia’s meddling, undercutting some Repub- gei Lavrov declined to comment on Saturday guage freebie Israel Hayom, in exchange for favorable coverage licans who, along with Trump, have attacked had meddled in the election, which he has secret services?” she asked in a Facebook post. on the U.S. indictments of 13 Russians and of himself in Yedioth. Mueller’s investigation. frequently disputed. The accused Russians are unlikely to be three Russian companies in what Washington Reports emerged earlier this year that the president of the “These Russians engaged in a sinister and “Russia started their anti-U.S. campaign arrested or to appear in a U.S. court on the sees as a criminal and espionage conspiracy World Jewish Congress and Netanyahu’s long-time ally, Ronald systematic attack on our political system. in 2014, long before I announced that I would charges, which include conspiracy to defraud to tamper with the 2016 U.S. presidential Lauder, had given the premier and his son gifts, including expen- It was a conspiracy to subvert the process, run for President. The results of the election the United States, wire fraud, bank fraud election. Russia has repeatedly denied any sive suits. The accounts prompted Israeli police to interrogate and take aim at democracy itself,” said Paul were not impacted. The Trump campaign did and identity theft. There is no extradition effort to influence the U.S. election. the prime minister. Netanyahu is currently under probe over Ryan, Republican Speaker of the House of nothing wrong - no collusion!” Trump wrote. treaty between the United States and Russia. Lavrov echoed that tone, telling partici- suspicions that he accepted 1 million euros (about $1.1 million) Representatives. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Echoes of intelligence report pants at the annual Munich Security Confer- from accused French fraudster Arnaud Mimran for campaign The indictment is silent on the question of Maria Zakharova denounced the allegations The indictment broadly echoes the con- ence that even the U.S. Vice President Michael funds during the 2009 elections. whether the Trump campaign colluded with as “absurd” and ridiculed the notion that so clusions of a January 2017 U.S. intelligence Pence and others had raised questions about There are also calls for Netanyahu to be investigated for his the Kremlin, which Mueller is investigating. few Russian nationals could undermine the assessment, which found that Russia had the U.S. investigation. “So until we see the role in a billion-dollar deal to purchase three submarines from In a tweet on Friday, Trump gave his U.S. democracy. meddled in the election, and that its goals facts, everything else is just blather,” he said. German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH. most direct acknowledgement that Russia “13 against the billions’ budgets of the eventually included aiding Trump. In No- (Source: agencies) Netanyahu’s personal lawyer and one of his closest confidants, David Shimron, reportedly represented the German company behind the submarine contract. The Israeli prime minister, in an apparently unrelated case, is also subjected to accusations that he and his spouse misap- Pakistan lawmakers rap government plan to send troops propriated public funds to pay for private expenses, ranging from laundry to ice cream. to Saudi Arabia (Source: agencies) Pakistani lawmakers have blasted a recent government sought clarifications to make sure that the initiative would decision to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia, saying the move not “contravene” the country’s neutrality outlined in the may violate a parliamentary resolution that urges neutrality parliamentary resolution. in the war on Yemen. “Mr. Speaker, as you know, Saudis themselves are em- Mexican helicopter crash The Pakistani army said that it was sending forces broiled in the war and it is not reaching any conclusion,” to Saudi Arabia, stressing, however, that the new de- she said, demanding the government explain the terms of kills 2, minister survives ployment and nearly 1,000 Pakistani “troops already the security pact with the Saudis and the type of missions there will not be employed outside KSA (the Kingdom Pakistani troops will undertake in the kingdom. A military helicopter carrying Mexico’s interior minister and of Saudi Arabia).” “How and on what grounds the government took the the governor of the southern state of Oaxaca crashed on Friday “In continuation of ongoing Pak-KSA bilateral security decision, or was this decision not taken by the government killing two people during a tour of damage from an earthquake cooperation, a Pakistan Army contingent is being sent to KSA as such but it was just part of a routine that the military earlier in the day, but the senior officials survived. on [a] training and advice mission,” the army’s Inter-Services decided to send more troops?” she asked. Interior Minister Navarete told TV network Televisa that Public Relations said in a statement. The House of Saud regime war was launched in March 2015 he and Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat were not seriously A resolution was unanimously passed at the Pakistani in support of Yemen’s former Riyadh-friendly government harmed in the accident that happened as the helicopter was parliament in April 2015, stipulating that the Asian country and against the Ansarullah (Houthi) movement, which has attempting to land. had to stay neutral in the conflict in Yemen “so as to be able been running state affairs since the former regime resigned. The ministry issued a statement on Twitter saying two peo- to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis.” The offensive has, however, achieved neither of its goals ple on the ground were killed when the helicopter came down. The resolution came in response to the House of Saud despite the spending of billions of petrodollars and the en- The officials were surveying the aftermath of a 7.2 magni- regime’s request from Pakistan to provide ships, aircraft, listing of the cooperation of the Saudi regime’s regional for Pakistan regarding the troop deployment to Saudi Arabia. tude earthquake that rocked the rural state and Mexico City on and troops for the Riyadh-led war on Yemen. and Western allies. Meanwhile, Pakistani Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani Friday evening. On Friday, Pakistani lawmakers criticized the government The Saudi regime-led campaign, which is accompanied by summoned the country’s foreign minister to explain the The quake did not directly cause fatalities, but damaged doz- for potentially bypassing the parliamentary resolution and a land, aerial, and naval blockade of Yemen, has so far killed reasons for the deployment of the troops to Saudi Arabia. ens of buildings and knocked out power for a million people, “making unilateral decisions to the detriment” of the country. more than 13,600 people and led to a humanitarian crisis. Shireen Mazari, a member of the National Assembly authorities said. Senator Farhatullah Babar warned of “grave consequences” (Source: Press TV) of Pakistan, also slammed the government decision and (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY FEBRUARY 18, 2018

STOCK MARKET Iran, India sign co-op agreements on TEDPIX 98429.7 IFX 1101.63 economy, agriculture, development Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran and Rouhani and Modi referred to energy and deskIndia inked several transportation sectors as the major fields cooperation agreements on economy, of cooperation between the two sides. CURRENCIES agriculture, and development in New Delhi Underlining that Iran can supply USD 46,580 rials and in the presence of Iranian President India’s need for energy under long-term Hassan Rouhani and Indian Prime Minister agreements, Rouhani said that “such long- EUR 60,000 rials Narendra Modi on Saturday, Iranian term agreements on fields of energy and GBP 68,900 rials presidential website reported. transportation will make the two countries The penned agreements included: a safe partners.” AED 13,360 rials double taxation avoidance agreement, Iranian president started his three-day an MOU on agricultural cooperation, trip to India on Thursday. As reported, in Source: mehrnews.com an MOU on anti-dumping, an MOU on addition to four Iranian ministers, Rouhani transient management of the first phase was accompanied by a delegation from of Iran’s southeastern Chabahar Port, an Iranian private sector entrepreneurs led MOU between Iran Chamber of Commerce, by ICCIMA Head Gholam-Hossein Shafeie. COMMODITIES Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Iran-India Business Forum was also held WTI 61.55/b and Federation of Indian Chambers of on the third day of Iranian presidents’ visit Commerce and Industry (FICCI), an to India. The Forum was attended by Iranian Brent 64.84/b MOU between ICCIMA and Associated Finance Minister , Head OPEC Basket 62.09/b Chambers of Commerce and Industry of of Organization for Investment, Economic India (ASSOCHAM), and an MOU between and Technical Assistance of Iran Mohammad Gold $1,348.40/oz ICCIMA and PHD Chamber Of Commerce Khazaie, Head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi (L) and Indian Minister for Road Transport and Industry. Organization (TPO) Mojtaba Khosrotaj, and & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources Nitin Gadkari after signing co-op agreement Silver $16.69/oz During their Saturday meeting, President of FICCI Rashesh Shah. in New Delhi on Saturday Platinium $1,009.00/oz Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com Sponge iron production up 14% Russia’s Zarubezhneft inks MOU in in 10 months yr/yr Iran on oilfield development Over $146m of state-owned ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s ENERGY TEHRAN – Russian shares divested since last Mar. deskproduction of sponge deskoil company Zarubezh- iron in the ten-month period ended on neft signed a memorandum of understand- ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iranian Privatization Organiza- January 20 rose 14 percent compared to ing (MOU) with Gostaresh Iranian Oil and desktion (IPO) has transferred 6.849 trillion rials the same period of time in the past year, Gas Industries Development Company (also (about $146.06 million) worth of the state-run shares to the private Industrial Development and Revolution known as IDRO Oil) for cooperation on sector since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year Organization (IDRO) announced. the development of Sousangerd oil field (March 21, 2017), Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday. The amount of sponge iron produced in southwest Iran. Of the mentioned figure, 6.745 trillion rials (about $143.8 by ten Iranian producers stood at 15.84 Based on the MOU, a joint technical million) has been divested through holding bids and 104 billion million tons in the mentioned time span, committee will be formed and in case of rials (about $2.2 million) via stock exchange market. IRIB news reported on Saturday. reaching a final agreement, the two com- The government envisioned a large privatization program Meanwhile production of sponge iron stood at 1.520 million tons, with 11 percent panies will proceed with the main contract IDRO Oil is a subsidiary of the Industrial in the Fifth Five-Year National Development Plan (2010-2015), in the tenth Iranian calendar month Dey increase from the figure of the same month with the National Iranian Oil Company Development and Revolution Organization aiming to privatize about 20 percent of the state-owned firms each (December 22, 2017-January 20, 2018) in the past year. (NIOC). (IDRO) of Iran. year. Under the present interpretation of the Article 44 of Iran’s constitution, some state-owned companies have been privatized to reduce their financial burden on the country’s budget and also China warns it may retaliate if U.S. imposes metal tariffs increase their productivity. China said proposed U.S. tariffs on imported terests, China will certainly take necessary trim capacity. the U.S. government. Nothing has been de- Downsizing the government is on the agenda, but a number steel and aluminum products are groundless measures to protect its own rights,” Wang said. Rather than tariffs on all imports, Trump cided and therefore the Japanese government of factors have been hindering privatization trend in the country, and that it reserves the right to retaliate if American steel companies and steelworker may opt for a more “surgical” approach, Ross doesn’t have any further comment,” he said. among them government’s high interference in the management they are imposed. unions have been pushing Trump to follow suggested at a meeting with lawmakers this Still, Kobe Steel Ltd. warned there could be of the transferred companies is a challenging one. The U.S. recommendations, unveiled by through on his promise to protect the industry. week. On steel, for example, the president ramifications. “We need to look more closely In a press conference on January 31, IPO Head Mir Ali Pouri- the Commerce Department on Friday, aren’t China’s trade partners have complained for could go with the recommended option that into this, but if these measures are enacted, it Hosseini announced that President Hassan Rouhani has ordered consistent with the facts, Wang Hejun, chief years that its industry unfairly benefits from would levy a tariff of 53 percent on imports would be difficult for the industry to avoid any to transfer the rest shares of those companies that the govern- of the trade remedy and investigation bureau state subsidies, and dumps its products at from 12 countries — a list that includes China, impact,” an official for the steelmaker said. ment’s interference in their management is more than its shares. at China’s Ministry of Commerce, said in a below-market prices. While China only ac- Russia, India and South Korea — but allow JFE Holdings Inc., Japan’s second-biggest statement posted on its website. counts for about 1 percent of U.S. steel im- exemptions for allies such as Japan, Germany steelmaker, said it will discuss a response with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the ports, it could challenge U.S. action at the and Canada. related parties after looking more closely at U.S. may impose quotas on imports of alu- World Trade Organization, a process that Japan is viewing this as more of a secu- the U.S. announcement. Iranian light oil price at minum and steel, including a tariff of at least could take years. rity issue, said Yasuji Komiyama, director India’s steel industry, which vies with Japan $63.14 in a week 24 percent on steel imports from all countries. China has long been at the epicenter of of the metal industries division at Japan’s as the world’s No. 2 after China, probably won’t While it’s the strongest indication yet that global over-production of steel. But the trade Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. be hurt, according to K. K. Pahuja, president ENERGY TEHRAN — Iran’s light crude oil price fell President Donald Trump’s administration dynamics are shifting as aluminum exports The Commerce Department may invoke a of the Indian Stainless Steel Development As- desk$3.18 in the week ended on February 9 to settle is ready to take action on its protectionist take center stage. In January, China boosted its seldom-used section of the 1962 Trade Act, sociation, in a report in the Business Standard. at $63.14 per barrel, Shana reported on Saturday. agenda, Ross said “it wouldn’t surprise us” shipments of the lightweight metal for a third which allows the president to impose tariffs Stainless steel “is not a big-ticket item, since The country’s light oil price was reported $67.27 on average if the measures were challenged. The U.S. month, as domestic supplies spill overseas, without congressional approval. the quantity is not very high,” Pahuja told since the beginning of 2018 until February 9. already has excessive protections on domestic while steel cargoes shrank to the lowest in Komiyama said steel and aluminum shipped the newspaper. India itself imposes extensive iron and steel products, according to Wang. nearly five years as strong domestic growth to the U.S. from Japan don’t pose any threats trade barriers on Chinese steel. “If the final decision impacts China’s in- mops up production and environmental curbs to American security. “This an issue within (Source: Reuters) What shaped the stock market’s $3t trauma Want a neat narrative? There isn’t one. automated traders as markets bucked and Stocks buckled, $3 trillion was lost, then recovered, the events had a recognizable just as quickly, roughly half of it came back. human ring. Investors -- many of them of Nothing quite explains every little twist and them newly christened, going by account turn. Much of it remains a blur. But there data at discount brokerages -- sent $16.4 are clues to be gleaned from the behavior billion to U.S. stock mutual funds and ETFs Iran’s heavy crude oil also experienced a $3.3 fall in the said of buyers and sellers. between Jan. 2 and the market peak of Jan. week to settle at $62.80 per barrel. Several key facts stand out. One: a very 26, EPFR data show. The country has sold heavy crude at $65.33 on average since large sum of money was plowed into equities It was a decision they quickly reconsidered. the beginning of 2018 until the mentioned date. amid January’s euphoria. Two: even more Spooked by signs of inflation, shocked by During the said week, Organization of Petroleum Exporting was yanked out as shares plunged. Three: the sight of traders unwinding bets against Countries (OPEC)’s basket price stood at $63.81 per barrel with corporate buyers showed up in force at the volatility, clients pulled almost $27 billion $3.06 decrease compared to the preceding week. bottom. from the same set of funds in the next nine Oil fell in the mentioned week as the U.S. dollar rose to its high- Combined, the flows are a framework sessions. One security, the SPDR S&P 500 est in more than a week in the wake of a sharp sell-off early that for understanding -- not a grand theory of ETF Trust, saw $23.6 billion withdrawn week on Wall Street and other stock markets, Reuters reported. everything, but an account of how money in one week, separate data compiled by With OPEC-led supply cuts supporting prices, but rising U.S. moved during the most tumultuous stretch in Bloomberg show. production capping crude, many analysts see markets balanced two years. They show how fast things change What made the selloff stop is anyone’s in 2018 and 2019, with Brent in a $50-$60 range. during a late-stage bull market, a rally that guess. It happened at a chart level, the S&P got back on track with this week’s 4.3 per- 500’s average price over the last 200 days, Global Markets. “Companies have buyback at 2.94 percent on Thursday. cent rebound. that half the world was watching a week ago policies that get reconsidered every quarter, Chalk it up to emotions, says Jurrien IMF chief says ‘Why not?’ to “There was a technical correction but we Friday. But who the buyers were is less of a so if you told shareholders that you’re going Timmer, director of global macro at Fidelity saw some fear and some panic and some in- mystery. The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. unit to buy back stock, and then a market blow-up Investments. The fear of missing out meets European Monetary Fund plan vestors getting burned,” said Andrew Adams, that executes share repurchases for clients that had no impact on your fundamentals the fear of going broke. a strategist at Raymond James Financial saw 4.5 times its average daily volume last made the price fall more than expected, maybe “On the way down, it just becomes that International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has no objec- Inc. “By no means did anyone expect that week, its busiest ever. it’s not a bad thing to step in.” much more violent,” Timmer said. “But on the tion to plans to turn the euro zone’s bailout fund into a European this selloff would be of this swiftness and “Retail investors were fearful immediately Tracing fund flows is the easy part. Trac- way up the bounce is just that much stronger Monetary Fund, she said in comments published on Saturday. magnitude.” after the selloff, but not the companies,” said ing what drove all the decisions is trickier. as well. It’s the nature of the beast.” The European Commission has suggested transforming the Whatever the role of computers and Aidan Garrib, macro strategist at Pavilion This week’s rebound was accompanied by all What happens now? The S&P 500 just role of the government-controlled European Stability Mechanism the things that fueled January’s rally. Earn- rallied for six straight days, retracing 54 (ESM) into a full-blown European Monetary Fund under parlia- ings stayed strong -- consensus estimates percent of its 292-point loss. The convulsion mentary control and anchored in European Union law, which would for S&P 500 earnings in 2018 and 2019 rose was painful, particularly compared with also become a backstop for the euro zone’s bank resolution fund. as companies from Cisco Systems to Deere the previous year and a half, in which the The plan is backed by countries including France and Germany. & Co. climbed on profit optimism. Housing index never fell as much as 3 percent from “Why not?” Lagarde said in an interview with Swiss newspaper starts and consumer confidence were up. a previous high. At the same time, a year Tages-Anzeiger. Throughout the last 16 days, investors like 1999 was riddled with quick drops and “The crisis the euro zone went through showed that it needs a have been reacting to a rotating assortment recoveries, en route to a 20 percent advance. crisis management system that is independent, able to act quickly of signals, among them the Cboe Volatility Will this be like that -- a rougher road to and that works according to strict rules. What that mechanism Index, inflation data and bond yields. The higher highs? is called is secondary. If one wants to call it European Monetary latter has provided a particularly confusing “For now, we would now have to say, Fund, then please.” roadmap for equities. it is indeed another time when buying the She also brushed aside the suggestion that the IMF’s role was When anxiety first cropped up in the stock dip worked. Will it work forever? No,” John being usurped in a region where it has been involved in bailing market two Fridays ago, yields on 10-year Stoltzfus, chief investment strategist of Oppen- out Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus and Greece in recent years - often Treasuries had just jumped to 2.84 percent, heimer & Co., said. “Going forward, concerns in exchange for oversight and painful reforms. up almost 40 basis points from the start of the about deficit growth and how the Fed will “We do not serve a region but 189 countries. That also includes year. It’s a level they more or less held for the move forward in the process of normalization euro zone countries. And if together they decide that other crisis next five days, as the S&P 500 tumbled 5.2 -- those are both key areas that we believe mechanisms like the ESM are involved, that is in order,” she was percent. Then the signal went mute. Shares invariably will cause periods of volatility.” quoted as saying. (Source: Reuters) recovered even as yields were topping out (Source: Bloomberg) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 18, 2018 ENERGY 5 OPEC considers moving the Price rally spells fleeting relief for Canadian oil goalposts, here’s where they might go producers After a year of production cuts, OPEC and December, according to the IEA. Canadian heavy crude rallied to a two-month high relative to Russia are finally near their goal of shrinking It’s harder, but possible, to compile a global U.S. crude this week, offering some relief to oil producers in the world’s swollen oil inventories. So why picture. Could data from major consumers Alberta struggling with thin margins amid plentiful supply. are they planning to change their target? like China and India tell a different story? The rally was likely to be short-lived, traders and analysts The answer lies somewhere between the According to Citigroup Inc., a global said, because output continues to grow without a corresponding murky and incomplete nature of oil data and measure actually shows OPEC’s mission is increase in transportation capacity. the competing interests within the produc- already accomplished. Adding non-OECD Canada’s crude typically trades at a discount to U.S. benchmark ers’ group. countries including Saudi Arabia and Brazil, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light oil, reflecting transportation The 24-country alliance wants to reduce as well as the crude stored at sea on tankers, costs to U.S. refineries and additional processing requirements. oil stockpiles to their five-year average, a goal to the mix shows inventories are already at The discount expanded since a November leak in TransCanada that is almost at hand according to figures their five-year mean, the bank said. Corp’s Keystone pipeline, which led to a temporary shutdown from the International Energy Agency. Yet Turn back the clock and a buildup in supplies. Saudi Arabia and Russia now say that metric The oil market is emerging from a long TransCanada is now operating the line at reduced pressure. is flawed -- distorted by years of excessively period of oversupply that drove prices to 12- Canadian producers have been unable to boost volumes by rail high supplies and patchy data outside de- year lows and lifted U.S. crude inventories to much, as railways are reluctant to take more oil business when veloped economies. the highest level in decades. That means any they are busy shipping grain. Choosing a different measure of success calculation of a five-year average “is overly The bottlenecks come as oil sands production expands with could further reinforce the need for supply weighted by three years of excessive inven- Suncor Energy Inc’s new Fort Hills mine. curbs to continue for the whole of 2018 -- tory,” according to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Falih. Western Canada Select oil traded $20.50 per barrel below WTI something Saudi Arabia is keen to ensure as The average has been rising steadily on Tuesday, the smallest since Dec. 7, and well off a four-year it prepares the historic initial public offering throughout the price slump. For January, high of $32 on Jan. 31, according to Shorcan Energy Brokers. of its state oil company. Other methods might when the period included in the calculation But the correction looks temporary, and the discount has indicate the rebalancing of the market is al- switches from 2012-2016 to 2013-2017, the started to expand again, said Tudor Pickering Holt & Co analyst ready complete, potentially allowing some number will jump by so much that it almost Matt Murphy. producers to end their self-imposed restraint. of the number of days they will last. already back in line with the five-year average. converges with current stockpile levels -- The price rally was connected to monthly apportionments by Here are some of the possible options: There are good reasons for considering A global picture a rather hollow victory in OPEC’s quest to Enbridge Inc, which operates the biggest Canadian oil pipeline Take cover that measure -- it better reflects how con- OPEC hasn’t said it’s exclusively targeting eliminate the glut. system and rations space when capacity is tight, Murphy said. Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid sumption has grown over the past few years inventories in the developed world, but in Some of that excess would be filtered out Oil companies typically request more capacity than they need al-Falih has said that, rather than just com- -- but wouldn’t necessarily back Al-Falih’s reality there’s little reliable data for anywhere by comparing inventories to an earlier period to ensure they get enough, resulting in some needing to buy paring inventory levels to their average, OPEC insistence that producers stick with the cuts outside the 34 countries that make up the before the surplus emerged. Using 2011-2015 additional barrels on the market, he said. should consider how quickly they’re likely to all year. Inventories in developed economies Organization for Economic Cooperation and would indeed justify Al-Falih’s argument that The start up of Alberta’s Sturgeon Refinery has also increased be consumed. This gauge, known as forward equated to about 60.6 days worth of demand Development. Those stockpiles were 52 mil- OPEC has some way to go before the job is heavy oil demand, said a Calgary-based trader, who was not demand cover, measures inventories in terms in December, according to IEA data, which is lion barrels above the five-year average in done. (Source: Bloomberg) authorized to speak publicly. Enbridge on Thursday said it was rationing space as much Russia may feel pinch from China flooded U.S. with solar panels as 51 percent on some Mainline pipelines for March, more than the previous month, reflecting tight capacity. oil cut deal this year before Trump’s tariffs Little has changed fundamentally, said GMP Energy analyst Michael Dunn. “Structurally, with Keystone restricted and the growing (heavy oil) output, and inventories being full, there doesn’t seem to be a physical relief valve that’s being blown yet,” Dunn said. Cenovus Energy sees prices strengthening once TransCanada restores pressure on Keystone and railway volumes increase, said CEO Alex Pourbaix. “In the short term, we have an acute challenge that is large- ly to do with what we suspect is a fairly small imbalance in supply and takeaway capacity,” Pourbaix said on a Thursday conference call. (Source: Reuters)

China outstrips South Korea as world’s No. 2 LNG importer

On the back of a massive government push toward cleaner-burn- ing fuel to combat air pollution, China last year surpassed South Korea to become the world’s second-largest importer of liquefied Russia’s economy may come to feel a neg- sia swing into the black earlier than most Chinese suppliers flooded the U.S. solar “The slow pace of D.C. bureaucracy natural gas for the first time. ative impact from the OPEC-led oil pro- analysts projected, but some observers market with panels at the end of last year, as has allowed the solar industry to insulate China imported 38.1 million tons of LNG in 2017, up about 50 duction cut deal, the central bank warned, have noted that too high prices are not customers sought to avoid paying President itself from the full impact of the tariffs,” percent from the previous year and slightly above South Korea’s adding that it expected GDP growth during good for its export-oriented economy, Donald Trump’s 30 percent import tariff. Bromley said in an interview. “They won’t 37.6 million. While Japan was still the biggest importer at 83.6 the first quarter of the year to stand at 0.4 either. Higher oil prices make the ruble Fourth-quarter deliveries from China be as damaging as some in the industry million tons, China is widely expected to become the No. 1 importer percent on a quarterly basis and rise to 0.5 more expensive, which Moscow doesn’t were almost 11 times higher than in the first have warned.” in the 2020s or by 2030. And if the East Asian nation continues percent quarter-on-quarter in April-June. want as it reduces the competitiveness of nine months of 2017, according to a report The tariffs announced in January came its “explosive” purchases of the fuel, neighboring countries may Russia agreed to cut 300,000 bpd from export goods. That’s why the central bank Friday by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. in response to a trade suit filed in April 2017 be forced to pay higher import prices. its post-Soviet record-high oil production embarked on a dollar-buying spree to keep Manufacturers also hauled panels and cells by a bankrupt U.S. solar manufacturer that Back in 2011, China imported 12 million tons of LNG, roughly of over 11.2 million bpd in November 2016, the ruble depressed. across the border from Mexico, Canada and argued it had been harmed by a wave of one-third as much as South Korea. But it has tripled imports to aid efforts by OPEC and several smaller Oil companies have complained that the other countries to beat the import duties cheap imports, mostly from Asia. The U.S. over the past six years as Beijing has stepped up clean-air meas- producers to relieve a global glut that sank continued production cuts interfered with that were announced last month. International Trade Commission agreed in ures in line with the “regain the blue sky” slogan adopted under prices to less than US$40 a barrel. their growth plans, which led to speculation The tariffs don’t apply to the first 2.5 October, paving the way for Trump’s decision. President Xi Jinping. “We assume that the OPEC+ deal... along that Moscow could try to push OPEC for an gigawatts of imports this year, and there’s SunPower Corp., the second-biggest U.S. Specifically, the government is urging manufacturing plants with weaker demand for natural gas from earlier end to the deal. For now, however, as much as 5 gigawatts of solar equipment solar supplier, manufacturers most of its primarily in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Henan provinces to re- abroad will temporary curb a growth in Moscow is toeing the line, and the Energy already stashed in warehouses and ports products in Mexico and Asia, and rushed place coal with natural gas to operate boilers. Thermal power (Russian) production which may have a Ministry is sticking to its original oil price around the country. That’s enough to sup- to bring them into the country at the end generation plants are also being pushed to switch to LNG. But negative impact on economic growth in forecast for the year, at US$50-60 a barrel. ply U.S. developers for about six months, of last year. The stockpiled inventory will some regions are facing an acute shortage of natural gas due to general,” the bank said. Earlier this year, Economy Minister said Hugh Bromley, a solar analyst at New help the San Jose, California-based com- the faster-than-planned energy shift. Gazprom reported 10 percent lower Maxim Oreshkin said that prices of US$70 Energy Finance, undermining the impact pany buy time as it pursues a request to be China’s soaring LNG imports have greatly impacted prices, non-CIS gas exports for January this year per barrel of Brent were unsustainable and of the protectionist policies on manufac- excluded from the duties because it uses a with spot prices in Asia temporarily skyrocketing this winter. resulting from the unusually soft winter added that over the medium term, prices turers. Shipments from exempt suppliers technology that’s different from standard As a result, investment in LNG-related facilities may be in Europe, its biggest customer. will most likely stay around US$60 a barrel. including First Solar Inc. may extend that photovoltaic panels. rekindled. China currently relies on coal for some 60 percent Higher oil prices last year helped Rus- (Source: oilprice.com) period to nine months. (Source: Bloomberg) of its primary energy consumption, while the ratio of natural gas is only 6 percent by 2030, the government plans to raise the proportion of natural gas to 15 percent and lower that of coal to 49 percent or less. And according to Chinese media reports, the number of bases accepting LNG is expected to more than Is this the future for OPEC? double from the current 17. Research firm Bloomberg New By Nick Cunningham A permanent arrangement would extend this level of Energy Finance predicts that China will become the world’s stability. That isn’t to say that volatility won’t occur (it will, of largest LNG importer in that same timespan. OPEC and Russia, along with other countries participating course), but only that there are greater odds of less volatility China currently buys the cleaner-burning fuel from Aus- in the oil production cuts aimed at balancing the market, are relative to a situation in which they abandoned cooperation tralia and Qatar, while it has expressed interest in an LNG looking to create a “super group of oil producing countries,” altogether. project in Alaska. according to a report from The National. The surge in U.S. shale production complicates their plans, The global supply capacity of LNG is currently outpacing The move would institutionalize the framework that has but also makes the vow to cooperate beyond the current demand, and major natural resources companies have pro- been in place since late 2016, when OPEC, plus a group of agreement all the more substantial. A world in which the crastinated on investment in large LNG plants due to the drop non-OPEC oil-producing countries led by Russia, cut output U.S. is adding upwards of 1 mb/d of new supply in a single in resource prices since 2014. by a combined 1.8 million barrels per day (mb/d). The trick year is also one in which OPEC’s tinkering with output levels But Kosho Tamura of Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National has been keeping everyone on board with the limits for an would be crucial to avoid another price collapse. Corp. said, “ supply will fail to keep with demand in 2022, or extended period of time, with multiple extensions, while also UAE’s oil minister Al Mazrouei said he doesn’t see a reason one year earlier than forecast, because of, among other factors, trying to figure out what to do when the oil market reaches why “we cannot continue to work in the future, it’s [down China’s strong demand.” If the pace of LNG imports by China the long-sought after “balance.” to] what framework we deliver together with the secretary further accelerates, resources majors may resume investment. The fear has been that all participants would return to general to ensure we are giving something reasonable for One example of that possibility is an LNG plant project in producing flat out, ramping up production in a short period would be signed by all 24 participants by the end of 2018. everyone to adapt,” according to The National. Canada involving British-Dutch oil and gas company Royal of time, a specter that threatened to crash oil prices all over The report comes just days after OPEC Secretary-General For now, OPEC compliance remains well above 100 per- Dutch Shell, Mitsubishi Corp. of Japan and PetroChina. A again. Up until now, OPEC has maintained a shockingly high had hinted that the “building blocks” for a permanent OPEC/ cent, and all signs point to continued cooperation for the final decision on investment was delayed from the initially level of compliance, although that has been aided by the non-OPEC arrangement were forming. remainder of the year. Some investment banks and market expected 2016. Bidding from plant builders was reopened at involuntary cuts (i.e. collapse) of output in Venezuela. Still, The significance of this, if it comes to pass, is profound. analysts have predicted that OPEC would overshoot the the end of last year, resulting in competition between two groups OPEC and its coalition partners have been cagey about what OPEC has been around for a long time, cutting output when balancing target, draining inventories below the five-year including Japan’s JGC. they plan on doing at the end of this year, offering soothing the market gets oversupplied and ramping up when prices average at some point around mid-year, which could result Surging LNG imports by China will greatly impact procurement but vague comments about a “gradual” exit. spike. Market management from the cartel has proven to in a deterioration of compliance levels. Saudi oil minister by Japan and other neighboring countries. Long-term purchase But, according to The National, the “super group” led reduce price volatility, although it often translates into higher Khalid al-Falih said that the OPEC/non-OPEC group would contracts totaling more than 10 million tons per year between by Saudi Arabia and Russia would offer an institutional prices. The period between 2014 and 2016, when OPEC continue to keep the limits in place, even if it meant tight- Japanese companies -- especially gas and electric power firms framework to manage the oil market post-2018. They hope eschewed intervention and let the market sort things out ening too far. -- and resources developers are due to expire between 2019 and to create a draft proposal before the end of the year. The goal on its own, was characterized by wild price swings, volatility “If we have to err on over-balancing the market a little bit, 2022. Although buyers can currently procure LNG under favorable is “together with the secretary general [of OPEC, Moham- and uncertainty. so be it,” Falih said after meeting Russian Energy Minister terms, sellers may take a strong position around 2020, because mad Barkindo], to put together a draft agreement for this A return to management at the end of 2016 brought back Alexander Novak in Riyadh, according to Reuters. “Rather of China’s burgeoning demand. group [of 24] to stay together for a longer time,” UAE’s Oil stability to a large degree, while also raising prices. And the than quitting too early and finding out we were dealing with Japanese buyers have been able to buy LNG at discount prices Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei, who currently holds the OPEC cuts, both in absolute terms as well as the psychological less reliable information ... Stay the course and make sure that under long-term bulk contracts, but they may see procurement presidency, told The National in Abu Dhabi. impact on the market, were augmented by the participation inventories are where the industry needs them,” he added. prices jump as a result of aggressive imports by China. In an optimistic scenario, Al Mazrouei said, the draft of Russia and the other non-OPEC producers. (Source: oilprice.com) (Source: Nikkei) ADVERTISEMENTS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 18, 2018

Italian elections and the crisis of European democracy How the U.S. can ‘get to yes’

By Lorenzo Marsili “Perhaps only a war can wake our country from slumber and give with Turkey direction to our politics.” Most people would be surprised to hear a young progressive utter these words in a cafe in Rome. But I have How bizarre that the biggest obstacle heard them more than once. And only a few weeks before the na- to finishing the war against the Islamic tional elections on March 4, the question haunting Italy is familiar to State [ISIS] and beginning the stabili- many across the world: can democracy still bring about real change? zation of Syria is America’s supposed The global success of Babylon Berlin, the German TV series friend and NATO ally, Turkey. portraying life under the fragile Weimar republic, signals a ris- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ing European fascination for the tumultuous inter-war period. made the latest attempt to mollify an Comparing the situation today to the 1930s has become some- angry Turkish President Recep Tayyip thing of a political cliche on Erdogan in a three-hour meeting in An- the continent. The sense of kara Thursday. But this may be mission dancing on the verge of the impossible: Granting Turkey’s demands abyss seems real enough: ex- would make Syria more unstable and ploding inequalities, threats prolong the threat of terrorism there. of ecological catastrophe, The U.S. goal is “getting to yes” with disruptive technological Erdogan, says a senior administration change and rising extrem- official. To that end, the U.S. has crafted ism. Psychological distress a tentative package meant to appease seems to have crossed all class the Turks by offering them a buffer zone barriers, with the ultra-rich in the Kurdish enclave of Afrin, joint hoarding cash, preparing for Turkish-American patrols of the Manbij the apocalypse, and purchas- region where Erdogan has threatened ing foreign passports. an “Ottoman slap” if U.S. troops don’t Yet, in this very European leave, and gradual dilution of U.S. ties obsession with historical rep- with a Kurdish-led militia that Erdogan etition, one element seems too despises. Former Italian Prime easily forgotten: the power of To coax agreement, U.S. emissaries Ministers Silvio Berlusconi individuals to effect political have prepared what amounts to a Venn change. diagram, showing how closely Ameri- If an Italian citizen of the 1930s were tele-transported to can and Turkish interests overlap in the 1950s she would scarcely believe her eyes. Where the poor the region -- except for on the Kurdish were left to die of curable illnesses, she would find a universal issue. That’s like saying a couple have Granting Turkey’s demands would make Syria more unstable and national health service. Where fascism ruled she would find a an interest in staying married, except prolong the threat of terrorism there. vibrant democracy. Where protectionist empires collided, she for the fact that one accuses the other would find booming international trade. In the short span of 20 of an illicit affair. The Turks simply don’t have enough since he took the job four years ago. President Trump favors is anybody’s years a new world had emerged. Nobody wants a violent rupture with disciplined, reliable military power to What’s the answer to this toxic mix? guess. Today, as we stand at yet another crossroads, is politics still able Turkey. But seven years into the cata- stabilize the areas the SDF now con- Not empowering Turkey’s deeper med- The core problem in this latest phase to provide such transformative potential - peacefully? Dramatically, strophic Syrian war, observers need to trols. The U.S. would create a free-for-all dling, surely. The path out is a steady, of the Syria mess is similar to what got the upcoming Italian elections bring a response in the negative. admit some ground truths: The Turks that would make Lebanon look tidy by patient advance of the faltering Geneva us here: The U.S. has the strongest The economic background is bleak. The country remains below allowed thousands of foreign to flow into comparison. negotiations to extend the power and military force, but doesn’t know what its pre-crisis output, while the little economic growth there is Syria and create bases from which they Here’s a catalogue of the craziness authority of a reformed Syrian state and it wants, politically. Turkey fulminates concentrates at the top of the pyramid. Unemployment may be threatened Europe and America; these in the Syrian battlespace over the past military. For the U.S., that means biting and demands American support, but nominally decreasing, but only due to the spread of precarious, terrorists would still be in their capital month: Al-Qaida has shot down a Rus- the bullet and working with Russia and lacks the power to stabilize areas it seeks underpaid jobs. And while the national debate focuses on the of Raqqa, planning attacks, if the U.S. sian jet, using a Chinese-made missile; the Syrian government -- two essential to control. effects of rising immigration, the number of Italians leaving their hadn’t partnered with the Kurdish-led Kurdish forces have shot down a Turkish partners. Here’s a thought experiment: Should country each year often exceeds the number of migrants coming in. Syrian Democratic Forces that Turkey helicopter, Israel has bombed twelve Russia actually took a step forward the Kurdish-led SDF be disbanded, as The political response to the grave state of affairs has been hates so much. sites across Syria in retaliation. this month by drafting a new Syrian Turkey wants? No! That would create a little more than feeble attempts to muddle through and petty Meeting Turkish demands would Syria is now riven by “converging constitution that would grant limited power void and more instability. Instead, squabbles. The incumbent Democratic Party of Matteo Renzi mean abandoning the SDF, which did forces with diverging interests,” warns autonomy for Kurdish regions in a newly the SDF should become part of a new and its stitched-up coalition try to tout the economic “success” the fighting and dying against ISIS. Even a senior Pentagon official. Staffan de decentralized Syrian state. The Rus- Syrian national army -- working with achieved in the last five years and promise more of the same. if the U.S. were ready to take that amoral Mistura, the UN special envoy, said sian draft would reconcile Kurdish and Damascus, Washington, Moscow, and On the other side of the spectrum, a coalition led by former act in the name of realpolitik, the result Wednesday that it is as “violent, wor- Arab demands, and some U.S. officials yes, even Ankara. prime minister and convicted tax-fraudster Silvio Berlusconi would be more chaos in Syria, not less. rying and dangerous” a moment as any see it as a basis for serious talks. What (Source: The Daily Star) puts together neo-fascists, nationalists, and old centrists in an incoherent alliance promising everything, and its opposite. Be- tween the two, comedian Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement Merkel is May’s new best friend – but Foreign ISIL fighters must be seen to seems willing to say anything its marketing experts recommend on any given day: tellingly, the party is both in favor and against how long will it last? face justice Italian membership of the Euro, the EU’s single currency. Silvio Berlusconi’s coalition is leading the polls, but none of the contenders in the upcoming election seems to have a chance of securing an absolute majority in Parliament, leaving horse- trading, a grand-coalition, or a technocratic government as the most realistic options. But regardless of the swinging electoral arithmetic, the up- coming elections bring further proof of the crisis of European democracy. At a moment when Italy and Europe need ambition, leadership and a clear vision for change, politics is turning pa- rochial and short-sighted. Where the extraordinary economic, ecological and geopolitical challenges of our time would call for a battle of ideas and for competing world views, the electoral debate is solidly buried in the sands of insignificance. The sad truth is that China’s long-term planning increasingly appears as a captivating alternative to Europe’s petty bickering. The outcome of this political abdication is a contradictory By John Rentoul But it was the willingness to do Ever since young Muslims began leaving and the lack of any clear judicial process mix of apathy and extremism. In the upcoming Italian elections, a deal that was the most important European cities for the battlefields of Syria, in Syria. Others look to the U.S., but offi- abstention is expected to reach 50 percent among younger people, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, theme of a news conference that was governments have been worrying about cials there are reluctant to use Guantánamo an all-time high. A sense of gloom and powerlessness prevails: sounded very different from Michel otherwise devoted to the repetition of what to do when they came home. Now Bay or any process that could jeopardize “We need to hit rock bottom before anything can begin to change” Barnier, the EU negotiator, in her platitudes. They were so dull that we the question is pressing. As the U.S.-led future extraditions from Europe. Talk of is another refrain very commonly heard in the country. At the news conference with Theresa May had to occupy ourselves by noting the coalition drives ISIL out from its last strong- using the International Criminal Court is same time the debate becomes even more polarized, with increas- yesterday afternoon. Where Barnier new variations on “deep and special” holds, hundreds of foreign fighters, and futile, since the U.S. does not recognize ingly toxic media coverage and openly racist claims from leading had a week ago insisted that Britain to describe the partnership with the their families, are being held by Kurdish it. Britain has been especially flagrant in politicians encouraging a climate of fear, xenophobia, and even must either be subject to all EU laws EU that Theresa May is seeking. Today and other rebel groups that do not have denying responsibility for two of the most far-right terrorism. Recently, a drive-by shooting targeted migrants or be treated like any other country she wanted a “bold and ambitious” the capacity either to keep them in secure high profile detainees — members of the so- in Northern Italy. in the world, Merkel sounded more partnership and then a “comprehensive detention or to put them on trial. called Beatles cell that allegedly beheaded As the Irish poet W. B. In this very open to some kind of half-way status and ambitious” one. As Jim Mattis, the U.S. defense secretary, victims, and featured in ISIL propaganda. Yeats sung in 1919, these between full EU membership and the Almost the only color in a careful remarks: “Doing nothing is not an option.” Gavin Williamson, defense secretary, has appear to be times when: European outer darkness. and brief session, which Merkel tried No one wants these people back. At least said “justice should be done locally” and “The best lack all con- obsession She was asked if what the British to bring to a close forgetting that she some ISIL recruits who returned home at that they are no longer part of Britain. viction, while the worst wanted was “cherry picking” and re- hadn’t taken a second question from an earlier stage may have been penitent, He can make this claim because the UK Are full of passionate with historical jected the phrase. She accepted May’s the German media, was provided by shocked by what they saw. government has in recent years awarded intensity” repetition, one argument that Britain would be differ- Theresa May’s Wikipedia reference to This group will include trained, battle- itself unusually broad powers to revoke Despondency grows all element seems too ent from other countries after we leave the “proud history” of Anglo-German hardened diehards who pose a long-term the citizenship of a dual national or of a across European democra- because we start from a situation of trade in the form of the 12th-century security threat. There is a clear risk some naturalized citizen when it is “conducive cies. And during the 2017 easily forgotten: being so closely aligned with the EU. Hanseatic League. could carry out attacks on home soil, yet to the public good”, even if the latter is left French presidential elec- the power of The relationship would not be as We hoped for more but instead it may be difficult to present the evidence stateless. But its adoption and use of these tions I have heard many individuals to close it is now, Merkel said, but “I think were straight into what May insisted needed to convict them. Even those who powers is highly questionable. young people thinking we can find” that compromise position. on calling the “time-limited implemen- were convicted could add to the problem It fits a popular narrative in which citi- that a victory for Marine effect political Of course, these are just words, but if tation period” – what everyone else of radicalization in jails — and would need zenship is not a secure legal status, but Le Pen’s far-right party, change. they are any guide to how the negotia- calls the transition period – that will monitoring after serving their sentence. Re- a privilege that must be earned, and can however disastrous, might tions will go they suggest a willingness follow Brexit and about which talks patriating young children — a clear moral be forfeited — for anyone who was not at least have provided a much needed wake up call. In the mean- “to find common ground”, as Merkel will begin on Monday. imperative — is also challenging. Many will born British. This is a dangerous path to time, the far-right has entered government in Austria, Poland and put it, which was rather different from After the talks on the transition pe- suffer from trauma and those over the age go down: it creates two classes of citizen Hungary, while in Germany it has become nearly as popular as Barnier’s take-it-or-leave-it language. riod comes the most important part of of six will have been taught radical ideology, and must surely fuel disaffection. More to the Social Democratic party. Merkel did repeat, more gently, some the negotiation, about the terms of the with weapons training from the age of nine. the point, Britain cannot simply disown Apathy and extremism are the bitter fruits of a failing economy of Barnier’s pre-negotiation attempt future partnership. Merkel said there was Yet none of this justifies the unseemly scram- its nationals when they present a threat and a political system that has renounced any vision or passion to play games with the other side’s psy- more than a “single bone of contention” ble by European governments to wash their to the rest of the world. for the future. Ultimately, Italian elections will mean almost chology. Asked if she were frustrated between the UK and the EU on that; “it hands of the problem. Several countries — The UK and other European governments nothing. And this is precisely the problem. by the British Government’s failure to is a very complex matter”. the UK, France and Netherlands included must press on with efforts to detain and Yeats ended his poem with a terrifying vision: be clear about what it wants and the But she sounded as if she wanted — had openly stated their preference for prosecute ISIL members swiftly, prevent “And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, continued divisions in the Cabinet, to do a deal. The trouble is that Da- foreign fighters to be killed in action. But them proselytizing in jails and help them Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?” she said: “I’m not frustrated, I’m just vid Cameron thought she was an ally now that large numbers are in captivity, reintegrate. Some will not face charges, It was the beast of war. History rarely repeats itself. But a curious.” Both sides were in a process in renegotiating the terms of our EU in Syria and Iraq, they cannot be allowed whether for lack of evidence or because they feeling of political impotence coupled with material suffering has of learning, and “we sometimes don’t membership before the referendum, to disappear — whether through summary are innocent of terrorist intent. There will always been the premise of all catastrophe. Keeping the mon- know how our opposite number is see- and she turned out to be less flexible execution, or an escape to other theatres of be a need for costly surveillance. To man- sters at bay will require the courage of political renewal and ing things”. That is the politest way yet – or more committed to the European conflict. They must be seen to face justice. age this process, and justify it to voters, is transformation. But a tired and provincial European political of expressing the common German ideal, to put it more politely – than he Several countries want them to stand trial a daunting task, but western governments class appears tragically unfit for the task. view that we British must be out of had hoped. where they are, despite the likelihood of must step up to the challenge. (Source: Al Jazeera) our minds. (Source: Independent) summary trial and death sentences in Iraq, (Source: FT) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 18, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Would French President visit to Tehran take From Davos to Munich place in the near future?

By Majid Ghahremani TEHRAN — Emmanuel Macron, at the age of 39, became the youngest President in the history of France on May 7, 2017 and has tried to be a different president. Macron was a relative newcomer to foreign policy when he became pres- ident, but his appetite for it has been large. In his first major foreign policy speech on Aug 29, 2017 he called on his ambassadors to convey the message of a 1 In such a situation, European citizens find that the solutions “stronger, more unified and more open” France. He said he offered by the moderate left parties didn’t work in removing the backs the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal or JCPOA and existing crises in Europe. Obviously, in this situation «crossing “there is no alternative to the non-proliferation agenda”. the traditional parties» would become a general demand in the He later on said that it would be an error to scrap this deal. West. Under such circumstances, Merkel’s and other Europe- Macron in a meeting with Iranian President Hassan an leaders’ warnings about the return to the twentieth century Rouhani (age 69) on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the and the time before the formation of the United Europe simply UNGA in New York said initially that Paris planned to support means the inability of the Eurozone authorities in preventing the current nuclear deal and adding that any negotiation of the Right-extremism in the West. the agreement would be “meaningless.” These concerns remain at the Munich Security Conference. Just one day after Donald Trump speech later, Macron’s As Reuters reported, The defense ministers of Germany and assessment appeared to change. While he still said that he France pledged to redouble their military and foreign policy would prefer that President Trump dials back the rhetoric cooperation efforts on Friday, inviting other European countries — and even offered to mediate between Iran and the United to participate if they felt ready to do so. States — Macron said that the current deal was clearly “not In a speech to the Munich Security Conference, German de- enough”! He said he wanted to discuss possible sanctions fense minister Ursula von der Leyen said Europe’s countries over Iran’s ballistic missile program, open negotiations would not be able to respond nimbly enough to global challenges immediately on what happens after the limitations to the if they were stymied by the need to decide joint foreign policy accord begin to be lifted in 2025 and hold a discussion on approaches unanimously. “Europe has to up its pace in the face the role of Iran in the region. The French leader said he of global challenges from terrorism, poverty and climate change,” believed he had managed to at least convince Trump to she said. “Those who want to must be able to advance without allow France and the United Nations to play a mediation being blocked by individual countries.” role between Tehran and Washington with regard to the doing was not only for Iran, the U.S. or the Region, they ing the U.S. and Paris advocated for stronger and more Her French counterpart Florence Parly said any such deepened situation in Syria. wanted France remain the forefront, most significant and specially in his new year address to cooperation would be complementary to the NATO alliance, President Trump in his first address to the United Na- ambitious foreign policy actor in the EU and in absence of foreign diplomats at the Elysee Palace in Paris (Jan.4,2018) which itself was based on the principle that members contributed tions General Assembly signaled he is close to ditching the UK after Brexit. At the same time Macron is trying to make was criticized by a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader. Ali differently depending on their capacities. Iran nuclear agreement struck by former President Barack an unwritten deal with Mr Trump between Paris climate Akbar Velayati said: “To sustain its international credibility, “The reality has always been that some countries are by choice Obama, by saying the deal is an “embarrassment to the accord and with the 2015 nuclear deal or JCPOA. France should not blindly follow the Americans.” more integrated and more able to act than others,” she said. United States”. To pave the way for this possible deal, Macron worked After these critical words, Macron and Rouhani had a The push comes as Germany’s political class reluctantly con- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ripped President hard to be close to Trump. Despite Trump’s staggering phone call and “a trip to Iran by the president, at the invitation cedes it must play a larger security role to match its economic Trump’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly unpopularity in France — not to mention the outrage over of President Rouhani, has been considered,” the Elysee said. pre-eminence in Europe, amid concerns that the European Union as “ignorant, absurd and hateful,” charging that “It will be Macron’s decision to invite his American counterpart On 11 January 2018 and 48 hours before the so called is unable to respond effectively to security concerns beyond its a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue to this country’s signature national holiday — the new- ultimatum by U.S. President, Donald Trump said the U.S. eastern and southern borders. newcomers to the world of politics”. “The world will have ly minted French president appeared to make a daring could “conceivably” return to the 2015 Paris climate accord But in their deal for another four years of a “grand coalition” lost a great opportunity, but such unfortunate behavior will gamble. With the United States increasingly isolated on if an agreement treated America more fairly. Two days later government, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the never impede Iran’s course of progress,” Rouhani said. the global stage, Macron sought to position himself as and on Friday Trump announced his decision to disavow Social Democrats have agreed to boost spending on the armed Trump’s tough talks opened the door for Macron’s di- Trump’s principal interlocutor in a region that has shown the Iran nuclear agreement and has given European Allies forces after years of post-Cold War decline. plomacy and suddenly Macron hardly tried to mediate a the White House little but disdain. Later Trump said 120 days to agree to a new deal or said the U.S. will pull out. The deal, which must still be ratified by the Social Democrat meeting between Trump and President Rouhani. But Iranian that “France is America’s first and oldest ally and a lot He also used some French prior requests like- not just for membership, comes as Germany reluctantly takes on the role President turned down a meeting with President Trump and of people don’t know that”. ten years, but forever. of the continent’s pre-eminent political power-broker, a role rejected a request from the Americans side. Despite the historic “special relationship” between the Jean-Yves Le Drian is set to travel to the Islamic Republic generations of post-war politicians have shied away from. “Is this agreement enough? No. It is not, given the evo- United States and Britain, Trump has shown little interest of Iran in the next few weeks )5th of March) and some should Days after U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis reiterated lution of the regional situation Macron told reporters in in British affairs since his inauguration, further delaying expect him possibly to prepare for President Macron’s state President Donald Trump’s demand that European countries spend New York. “Let’s be honest, the tensions are on the rise. a traditional visit to that country. And although German visit to Tehran. Macron’s visit to Iran would be the first by a more on their militaries, Von der Leyen pledged to spend more We need a clear framework to be able to reassure regional Chancellor Angela Merkel recently tried to patch things up French head of state or government since 1971. on its military and the United Nations, but called in return for countries and the United States,” Macron said, adding that with Trump at the Group of 20 Summit in Hamburg, she In this regard it is necessary to say openly that if Macron other countries not to turn away from mulitlateralism. he was ready to mediate between,” the United States and has done little to hide her distaste. is supposed to visit Tehran in context of U.S. president’s The pledges come as the EU seeks a new basis on which to Iran. Thereafter, France put the steps further and French Paris has been very active in recent months in several frustrated words and so-called ultimatum and conditions, cooperate with Britain, traditionally one of the continent’s leading foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian suggested to reporters important Middle East crises and in fact, Macron and Trump we should say “he is not welcomed”, and better to do this security players, after its vote to leave the EU. that there could be talks to strengthen the Pact for the post- speak by phone at least once a week. The two have several visit after 10th of May (when so-called 120 days finishes) Earlier on Friday, the leaders of the three countries’ security 2025 period but that allowing it to collapse could lead Iran’s things in common which make this connection a natural or his first year of his Presidency at Elysee. But if he wants services said close security cooperation in areas like terrorism, neighbors to seek atomic weapons. France’s Ambassador one: Both came from outside the traditional party system, to visit Tehran in the context of the EU and especially illegal migration, proliferation and cyber attacks, must continue to the U.S. Gerard Araud also said, under a French idea, both like to boast that they plan to keep their promises and, French independence policies, the Iranian officials are after Britain’s departure. “Cooperation between European intel- sanctions would be reinstated automatically in the event as some Parisians say, the fact that Macron is a man gives ready to receive him warmly and talk with him about ligence agencies combined with the values of liberal democracy is of non-compliance, avoiding the threat of a veto. him an edge in dealing with today’s Washington. many things and especially about French foreign policy indispensable, especially against a background of diverse foreign In fact, what French President and other officials were Macron’s continuous improvement behavior regard- contradictions. and security challenges,” they said.

Modern management and requirements

in the age of information N.I.O.C National Iranian

1396.5386 1396.5386 Drilling Company 1 Different epochs have no definite Second Announcement starting points, they gradually appear and Public Calls For Quality Evaluating Of Tender (Seconed/ Publish) subtle. First, they are aware that a funda- mental thing is happening, and then they Two Stage (Semi-Compressive) will present a new worldview. Hesitation about the common worldview usually TENDER ESTIMATED Tenders Portal begins with the emergence of dilemmas. GUARANTEE VALUE Reg. No. On The dilemma is an issue or question that DESCRIPTION TENDER NO. / INDENT NO No cannot be resolved or responded to with Euro Rial (Rial) http://iets.mporg.ir the common worldview. Therefore, there is doubt about it. Indent No: 43-22-9603748014 The age of information has started 18,208 815,000,000 16,285,824,000 3,151,546 1 with this dilemma, making decisions in Casing Running Tool (CRT) TenderNo.: CGP/25-96/022 turbulent environments, without ever reaching the relevant information, is practically confusing. The mindset of BriefBrief discriptionof discriptionof subject: subject: National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) address pasdaran Blv., Airport Saqare, Ahvaz, Iran hereby intends to purchase its requirements managers and scientists is obvious to and technology; organizations are now the effective use of information, the im- fromNational qualified andIranian interested Drilling tenderers Company through Two (NIDC) Stage public address tender pasdaran(semi-pressed) Blv., upon Airportfollowing Saqare,terms and Ahvaz,conditions: management information systems. In focusing more on their information assets provement of coordination mechanisms A) QualitativeIran hereby evaluation inte ndsof tenderer: to purchase its requirements from qualified and interested tenderers fact, the vast majority of these systems and knowledge. Managing information in the organization is also very necessary. The throughevaluation isTwo based Stage on article public (G) implementing tender (semi regulations-pressed) of the upon law of tendersfollowing and alsoterms carried and out conditions: base on worksheets qualitative are a source of concern for all management and knowledge resources is a strategic Human beings in the third millennium, evaluation inquiry in the tender doucments. Minimum acceptable point of quality is 60. issues. The passion for these systems is necessity in the life of organizations and having left behind the «age of commu- B) PreparationA) Qualitative of tender evaluation documents: of tenderer: understandable. These systems make use doing work activities. nication» and entering the «information Purchasing The of evaluation documents: is based on article (G) implementing regulations of the law of tenders of the most exciting tools of the time, com- In the information age, most data and age», entered into a space in which the In orderand to alsoreceive carried the tender out documents, base 510,000on worksheets Rials should bequalitative paid to SIBA evaluation account number inquiry 2174652205004 in the oftender NIDC in Bank Meli puters between dreamers and information data managers receive information that entire world is a part of a network of coun- Iran and providing the original deposit receipt. system designers. Although such passion they cannot attract even if they spend all tries and institutions and nations. In this Recivingdoucments. of documents: Minimum acceptable point of quality is 60. is understandable, some exaggerations their time. They suffer from overload of space, new threats and opportunities have TenderersB) Preparation must be obtain of the tender quality documents evaluation documents: along with tender documents maximum 10 days after the date of second cannot be justified. In addition, the use information. emerged and all the issues and issues of our publication in person at the following address: Sector Tenders, Foreign Procurement of Capital Goods dept., end of the workshop No. 8, KaroonPurchasing Industrial Area, of documents: Ahwaz, IRAN. of information requires changes in the Therefore, we need to look for mech- environment have become global. In this Tel No.: In061-34142387 order to orreceive Room #431, the coordination tender documents, office of NIDC, 510,000 NIOC No. 8Rials center shouldBuilding, beYaghma paid alley, to JomhooriSIBA St., Tehran, organization, without which the managers’ anisms to meet the information needs of space, the boundaries have become glass, IRAN,account Tel No.: number021-66700249. expectations will not actually be realized. our users. Designing and deploying ap- from which everything is seen. We must Notice:

One of the real shortcomings of manag- propriate information systems are one admit that the explosion of information Only2174652205004 the real or legal persons of NIDCwho apply in Bankto purchase Meli and Iran recieve and tender providing ducments the from original foreign procurmentdeposit receipt. department in due date will ers in work activities is lack of information. of these mechanisms. It can be said that and globalization summed up the world in be knownReciving as tenderer of documents: from tender committee. Of course, this does not mean that they the most important task of information a small city, which controls and observes C) Delivery Tenderers of call quality must evaluating: be obtain the quality evaluation documents along with tender would have performed better if they had systems is to clear and clear information. the eye of a rotating turret in its entirety. Tenderers shall submit the completed documents including qualificaion worksheets in form of software in CD/DVD and documentary all the relevant information as well. Ex- In other words, the first and perhaps most The information society is a community withindocuments 14 days from maximumlast day of document 10 days recived after deadline the to datethe following of second address: publicationHall No.:107, 1thfloor in person ,Tender at Committee, the Building perience has shown that the performance important step in designing organizations in which everyone can create, access, use, operations,following National address: IranianDrilling Sector Company, Tenders, Airport Foreign square, Ahwaz, Procurement IRAN. Tel ofNo.: Capital 061-34148205~6 Goods dept., end of of many managers is not due to the fact appropriate to the information age is the and respect information and knowledge. D) Tenderthe workshop Guarantee: No. 8, Karoon Industrial Area, Ahwaz, IRAN. Type of guarantee: that they first suffer from redundancy of design of appropriate information systems. People who want to rule themselves must Tel No.: 061-34142387 or Room #431, coordination office of NIDC, NIOC No. 8 center information, and secondly, they have not It is usually said that more information equip themselves with the power of con- A)Bank guarantees or guarantees issued by non-bank institutions that haveactivites licensed by the Central designed their organization to match the about the work of other managers and sciousness. A government without popular BankBuilding, of the Islamic Yaghma Republic alley, of Iran. Jomhoori St., Tehran, IRAN, Tel No.: 021-66700249. changes in the information age. B) TheNotice: original cash deposit receipt paid toNational Iranain Drilling Company. their units makes it easier for managers information and means of obtaining it Duration of credit guarantee:quatation The challenges of the information to coordinate their activities. This is not equals tragedy or comedy, or both. The This duration Only shouldthe real be valid or forlegal 90 days persons and extendable who maximumapply to For purchase one time in andinitial recievecredit amount. tender ducments age are not limited to one part, but all necessarily true. Competition between realization of the notion of citizenship is Morefrom on this foreign & other tendersprocurment is accessible department by click on. WWW.NIDC.IRin due date will be known as tenderer from tender sectors of society are under its influence. the managers of a unit of an organization in the information society, the right to NIDC Telegram Channal: @nidc_pr Organizations are not excluded from this is often intense and immoral, and if the and free access to information. We must committee. National Iranian Drilling Company rule. The main sources of an organiza- coordination systems are not properly see the principle of a basic intelligence C) Delivery of call quality evaluatingForeign: Procurement of Capital Goods tion are not just traditional sources of implemented, more information may be community, such as the right to know, the qualificaion worksheets in تهران تایمز : including نوبت اول documents96/11/28 نوبت دومTenderers shall submit the96/11/29 completed human resources, finance, organization, used in a destructive way. Therefore, for right to be a citizen and a citizen. form of software in CD/DVD and documentary within 14 days from last day of document recived deadline to the following address: Hall No.:107, 1thfloor ,Tender Committee, Building operations, National IranianDrilling Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN. Tel No.: 061-34148205~6 D) Tender Guarantee: Type of guarantee: A)Bank guarantees or guarantees issued by non-bank institutions that haveactivites licensed by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. B) The original cash deposit receipt paid toNational Iranain Drilling Company. Duration of credit guarantee:quatation I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 18, 2018 Morgan Tsvangirai: From a nickel miner to an icon By Alex Magaisa speeches, he liked to draw from the “at the coal for constitutional reforms. was a seminal moment for a number of reasons. It absolute majority. Many believe those results were It’s a dark moment for Zimbabwe. Iconic opposi- face” language of his early life in the mine tunnels. Mugabe regime frightened showed that Mugabe could be defeated - it was the manipulated. tion leader and former Prime Minister Morgan It was his courage that stood out throughout As his civic work grew beyond the traditional first time that he had lost a plebiscite. However, it This necessitated a second round of election Tsvangirai has died after a two-year battle against his career. He challenged the regime of President domain of trade unionism, the Mugabe regime was also a double-edged sword, which awakened between him and Mugabe. As it happened, the colon cancer. Robert Mugabe at a time when many believed it felt threatened. The president dared him and his Mugabe and his party, ZANU-PF, from their slumber. campaign for the runoff election was marred by His death will remain as one of the rare mo- was suicidal to do so. In 1989, Mugabe imprisoned comrades in the unions to join politics if that was Realizing that the MDC and civic society were egregious violence by state-sponsored groups, who ments that has united Zimbabwean politicians from him when he expressed solidarity with the student what they wanted. They obliged and formed the a potent force, Mugabe unleashed the might of the terrorized mainly rural voters who were believed across the political divide. His loyal supporters are movement, which was protesting against corrup- Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) in 1999, repressive state machinery upon his opponents. to have voted for Tsvangirai. Human rights groups inconsolable at the loss of their icon, but perhaps tion. He immediately became a target and there with Tsvangirai as its first leader. That would mark ZANU-PF won the general election in June 2000 say more than 200 people were killed, thousands the greatest tribute is that those from the ruling was an attempt to assassinate him. the beginning of his remarkable political career. by a small margin, and, had the regime not used were injured and many more lost their homes and elite, who have opposed and ridiculed him as a As secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress As leader of the new party, Tsvangirai worked violence, the ruling party would probably have lost. property. politician, have shown him respect. of Trade Unions, Tsvangirai honed his motiva- with civic organizations, including the NCA, to de- Tsvangirai contested three presidential elections, The violence against his supporters was so bad Tsvangirai has, without doubt, been one of the tional and organizational skills. In 1998, he was feat Mugabe’s proposed new constitution in 2000. and many believe he would have won, had he not that Tsvangirai was forced to withdraw from the race greatest and most influential political figures in the face of the large-scale protests against price The battle between the sides was over the process. been cheated by the regime. The most glaring of a few days before the runoff election. This led to a Zimbabwean history. He has always fought for the hikes and taxes that the government was imposing Tsvangirai and the activists believed the process this election manipulation and rigging was in 2008. sham runoff election in which Mugabe effectively underdog, starting his activism as a trade unionist to fund the profligacy of the political elite. Pioneer- should be broad-based and more inclusive, while For the first time, Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe ran alone. The African Union and the South African while working in a nickel mine. ing activists recognized his leadership skills and Mugabe had handpicked a commission chaired by in March that year. However, after a delay of six Development Community had to intervene, and this His early years as a miner must have prepared selected him to chair the National Constitutional a judge to write a constitution favoring his regime. weeks, the electoral commission announced that led to the formation of an Inclusive Government, a him well for the rigors of his political life. In his Assembly (NCA), a group that was campaigning The defeat of Mugabe’s constitutional proposal Tsvangirai did not have enough votes to claim coalition between the MDC and ZANU-PF. 13

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LIFETwo proposals on child- they live in. although it is a time consuming deskfriendly urban planning task, it is a valuable project, which should were approved by Tehran City Council on start with little change. Wednesday. The proposals on smart pedestri- According the United Nations Children’s an crossing management includes installation Fund (UNICEF) in Tehran, Iran is progressing of smart traffic lights and putting crosswalk towards democracy. The steps at times may in streets where schools and preschools are look slow but the will of the people is towards located, Khabaronline reported. the creation of a society with the rule of law “We emphasize the need for improving and freedom for all. The idea of a child-friendly safety of students and children in crossing city plays well into this process of the evolution streets and try our best to enhance their of a society, since it is in the realm of public movements across the city,” council mem- participation. It is a learning experience for ber Elham Fakhari said. the people as well as officials to see the result Urban planning regarding young people and the process of a decision-making that encourages safe movement and social inter- includes people both to set the criteria and Legumes action. The better design of urban environ- participate in the final say. Legumes, including beans, peas and lentils, are great sources ment not only helps these children thrive and Urban design is a process of communal of iron. become healthier, but also such planning is decision-making. Eventually this process Tofu, tempeh, natto and soybeans beneficial for vulnerable groups including shall result in guidelines. Sometimes these Soybeans and foods derived from soybeans are packed with iron. disabled and the elderly. laws are sufficient to give us the desirable In fact, soybeans contain around 8.8 mg of it per cup, or 49% of Considering children in urban design pro- environment. To make sure of success in the RDI. The same portion of natto, a fermented soybean product, vides a place for them to be safe and happy to achieving such an environment, people must offers 15 mg, or 83% of the RDI. In addition to iron, these soy explore different aspects of the environment share their opinions. products contain between 10–19 grams of protein per portion and are also a good source of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Lentils Lentils contain a significant amount of protein, complex carbs, Household items you had no idea were reusable fiber, folate and manganese as well. One cup of cooked lentils contains 18 grams of protein and covers around 50% of your Re-steep your tea bags cars, pets, and more. If you’re feeling creative, you can even recommended daily fiber intake. One teabag can make two cups of tea—possibly even three turn them into DIY creations like bath mats and soft dog Beans, peas and lentils are rich in iron. These legumes also or four. To get the most bang for your brew, continuously toys. Check out these 16 cleaning hacks you’ll want to steal contain good amounts of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and steep your tea in a teapot on the stove. If you only drink one from professional house cleaners. beneficial plant compounds that may reduce your risk of vari- cup in the morning, place your used teabag in the refrig- Get a head start on next year’s garden ous diseases. erator and re-purpose it later in the day to relax your eyes. Your flowers and vegetables have uses beyond just their Nuts and seeds Cool teabags do wonders for eye puffiness and irritation. harvesting season. Let a few of your plants go to seed (if you Those who wish to increase their total daily iron intake should Bake cookies with minimal cleanup don’t harvest them, they will stop growing and eventually add the following varieties to their diet, as they contain the high- Got a birthday party coming up? Bake multiple batches produce seeds), you can keep those seeds and use them for est amounts. of cookies on the same piece of parchment paper. Most next year’s crops. Howtosaveseeds.com explains the seed Pumpkin, sesame, hemp and flaxseeds brands are oven safe up to 450 degrees—and as long as saving instructions for each plant. Pumpkin, sesame, hemp and flaxseeds are the seeds richest there’s nothing stuck to the paper that could easily burn, Empty box from under the eggs in iron, containing around 1.2–4.2 mg per two tablespoons, or it’s safe to reuse. Egg cartons are designed to keep small, fragile items 7–23% of the RDI. Clean Swiffer dusters safe. Who says eggs should be the only things to get that Products derived from these seeds are also worth consider- The pads that attach to the bottom of your Swiffer don’t protection? Use empty (and clean!) cartons to store small ing. For instance, two tablespoons of tahini, a paste made from have to go in the trash when you finish your chores. Fill your Christmas ornaments and lightbulbs, or turn them into sesame seeds, contain 2.6 mg of iron — which is 14% of the RDI. sink with warm water and soap, and swish the duster around organizing trays for screws and bolts. Here are 50 more They’re also a great source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty to ready it for a second use. Roll the pad into a power towel organizing tips you’ll wish you knew all along. acids. Hemp seeds, in particular, seem to contain these two fats to eliminate any extra moisture. Allow to air dry. These are allow it to dry, and reuse. Roll out the paper rolls in the ratio considered optimal for human health. the “disposable” items you need to stop buying. Fix a yucky shower curtain When expert crafters see paper towel or toilet paper rolls, Cashews, pine nuts and other nuts Give dryer sheets a second life Just because it’s plastic doesn’t mean it has to be dis- they see endless crafting possibilities. But you don’t need to This is especially true for almonds, cashews, pine nuts and Dryer sheets are just as effective when cut in half and posable. Instead of tossing a soap-scum laden curtain, try have an artistic vision to reuse cardboard tubes. Slip them macadamia nuts, which contain between 1–1.6 mg of iron per can be reused at least once. That’s four loads of laundry for this. Remove the curtain from its hooks and put it in your over wrapped cables and extension cords to keep them from ounce, or around 6–9% of the RDI. the price of one! washing machine, along with regular detergent and a cup tangling. Cut and re-tape tubes over the bottom of hangers to Nuts and seeds are good sources of non-heme iron, as well as an Use coffee filters more than once of baking soda. Rehang the shower curtain to dry. keep pants from creasing. Stuff them with the many plastic array of other vitamins, minerals, fiber, healthy fats and beneficial Most coffee filters can be reused at least four or five times Repurpose old towels bags laying around the house. The options are endless. Don’t plant compounds. Add a small portion to your menu each day. before they stop working effectively, according to ground- As your bath towels fade and accumulate holes, don’t miss these other extraordinary uses for household staples Vegetables toground.org. Try one of these extraordinary uses for the immediately throw them in the trash. Cut them up and use you already own. Gram per gram, vegetables often have a higher iron content than coffee grounds (or just discard them), rinse off the filter, them as washable cleaning rags to take care of dirty floors, (Source: Reader’s Digest) foods typically associated with high iron, such as meat and eggs. Leafy greens Leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, swiss chard, collard and 28 simple and natural ways to detox How to manipulate your body to beet greens contain between 2.5–6.4 mg of iron per cooked cup, or 14–36% of the RDI. your body wake up when tired? For example, 100 grams of spinach contains 1.1 times more iron than the same amount of red meat and 2.2 times more than 100 grams of salmon. Other iron-rich veggies that fit in this category include broc- coli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, which contain between 1 and 1.8 mg per cooked cup, or around 6–10% of the RDI (30, 31, 32). Tomato Paste At 0.5 mg per cup, raw tomatoes contain very little iron. However, when dried or concentrated, they offer a much greater amount. For instance, half a cup (118 ml) of tomato paste offers 3.9 mg of iron, or 22% of the RDI, whereas 1 cup (237 ml) of tomato sauce offers 1.9 mg, or 11% of the RDI. Sun-dried tomatoes are another iron-rich source, providing you with 1.3–2.5 mg per half cup, or up to 14% of the RDI. Tomatoes are also a great source of vitamin C, which helps increase iron absorption. Moreover, they’re a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant linked to a reduced risk of sunburn. Potatoes Potatoes contain significant amounts of iron, mostly concen- trated in their skins. # 9. Try fasting for a day or two: as they rest they have a chance to recharge, For the coffee addicts: When you feel like one’s an oldie but a goodie, and it actually does Potatoes are also a great source of fiber. Additionally, one You don’t have to go to extreme measures and that means that you are going to come your coffee isn’t giving you the jolt you need, work. Just don’t go overboard and come out portion can cover up to 46% of your daily vitamin C, B6 and as so many cleansing programs will tell you back from this with natural energy and a try reducing the amount of milk and sugar of the office bathroom looking like you fell in. potassium requirements. to do. Simply fasting for a day or two and more effective digestive system. that you put in it. Use your computer as an alarm clock!: Mushrooms replacing foods with natural juices made Perform a fast like this when you have Grab a few minutes of direct sunlight, The basic idea is to make you actually pay at- For instance, one cooked cup of white mushrooms contains from fresh fruits and vegetables can really some time at home and can be away from outside: It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a corner tention to your alarm, instead of just going back around 2.7 mg, or 15% of the RDI. help. You don’t have to do this often, but any food temptations. Try do perform this office that gets sun all day, light passing through to sleep. This way, your “alarm clock” is sitting Oyster mushrooms may offer up to twice as much iron, whereas you should make it a priority in your life. on a weekend where it’s much easier for you windows just isn’t the same as the real deal. across the room, so you have to get out of bed. portobello and shiitake mushrooms contain very little. When you give your body a chance to to fast and to let the body rest and recharge. Pull your hair: This one sounds bad but Stretch your back/neck/legs: Don’t Palm hearts rest in this capacity, then it has time to You will be surprised at how much natural it really isn’t; slowly and gently tug at your hair just sit up straight and yawn, but get out of Palm hearts are a tropical vegetable rich in fiber, potassium, recuperate and rejuvenate. The organs energy you feel and how much better you to get blood flowing to your head in a new and your chair and stretch like you’re about to go manganese, vitamin C and folate. don’t have to be focused on digestion and feel afterwards. refreshing way. running. A lesser-known fact about palm hearts is that they also con- breaking down food and potential toxins. So (Source: bembu.com) Splash cold water on your face: This (Source: lifehacker.com) tain a fair amount of iron — an impressive 4.6 mg per cup, or 26% of the RDI. Fruit Fruit is not commonly the food group that individuals turn to 101 ITEMS FOR #IRANIANLIFESTYLE when wanting to increase the iron content of their diet. Prune juice YOUR BUCKET LIST! Prune juice, in particular, offers about 3 mg of iron per cup (237 ml). That’s around 17% of the RDI and is twice as much iron than the same quantity of prunes. Prune juice is rich in fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6 #37. Do public speaking in front of 1,000 people (or more) Two little girls and manganese, too. Public speaking is often said to be the greatest fear of people, Olives ranked even higher than dying, and it’s understandable why. in traditional Olives are technically a fruit, and one with a good iron con- Not only does addressing a large crowd help to train you in dress walks in tent at that. your communication and body language, you also get the op- an alley in Pasa Olives also contain a variety of beneficial plant compounds portunity to share a message you care about to a large crowd Bandar village, thought to provide several health benefits, including a lower of people, hence getting the opportunity to impact their lives. Sistan and risk of heart disease. While I’ve spoken to countless audiences — ranging from dozens, Baluchestan Mulberries to hundreds, to almost a thousand — each experience is always Province, south- Mulberries are a type of fruit with a particularly impressive exciting and never dull. eastern Iran nutritional value. Here we share 101 items to consider for your bucket list. Look (Instagram/ Not only do they offer around 2.6 mg of iron per cup — 14% through the list — any item that resonates with you? Take the morii.hd) of the RDI — but this quantity of mulberries also meets 85% of items that resonate with you and use them for your own list! the RDI for vitamin C. (Source: personalexcellence.co) Mulberries are a great source of antioxidants as well, which may offer protection against heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. (Source: healthline.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM FEBRUARY 18, 2018

Turkish Airlines starts CHHTO to arrange special advertising for Iranian destinations

TOURISM TEHRAN — Turkish Airlines has commenced desk package tours advertising for several Iranian cities based on a previous agreement signed with Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, a deputy at the CHHTO TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran’s desk said on Friday. Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization is designing a range of promotional cheap package tours, which will be offered to Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkey nationals in the span of March 16 to April 4. The excursions will cover expenses of air flight tickets, airport transfers and hotel accommodations and also include free-of- charge medical checkups for Iraqi travelers, ISNA reported on Friday. The low-cost packages are to be designed between $350 to $440 for seven- to-eight- day tours to Tehran, Karaj, Hamedan or Tabriz. “Promotion of Iran’s tourist attractions, their infrastructure The tours will be conducted concurrent as well as culture and history of its people and their famed hos- with Noruz, the Iranian New Year holidays, pitality can help attract more foreign tourists,” CHTN quoted when major Iranian cities including Tehran Mohammad Moheb-Khodaei as saying. are generally felt less populated. Based on the plans, people who visit Iran via Turkish Airlines Empty-leg flights and hotel vacancies will be offered with some bonuses, the official said without pro- will be taken into account for the project viding more details. to get off the ground in collaboration with For the time being, hotspots of Tabriz, Yazd, Ahvaz, Hamedan Iran Civil Aviation Organization and several and Kerman appear on the airlines’ in-seat video screens as well hotels and tour operators. as its publicity network, while yet to be started on its associated “I consider this scheme as a useful and magazine, he added. effective tool for prosperity of the country’s In August 2017, the CHHTO announced that every single tourism industry, believing it to be welcomed foreign tourist visiting Iran spends an average of $1,200, bringing by tourism agencies if implemented in income as much as exporting 30 barrels of oil. properly, particularly in the service sector,” ISNA quoted Manila Mohajer, a member of Iranian Tour Operators Association, as saying. Dubai opens world’s Over the past year Iran has seen a slow A view of Tehran with the towering snow-capped mountains in the background decline in the number of its inbound arrivals tallest hotel traditions, cuisine and hospitable people. in particular from Middle East and Arab Embracing 22 World Heritage sites, 2025. However, with only eight years to The country’s ultimate goal is to attract states, the report said. Iran is a hot travel destination in terms go, according to some experts, the target The world’s tallest hotel has officially opened its doors in Dubai of its rich history, picturesque sceneries, 20 million foreign tourists annually by seems to be somewhat unachievable. -- scaling the clouds and towering above the city below. Experts say despite having vast tourism The Gevora Hotel is a new offering in the UAE hotspot’s financial potentials, Iran’s international tourism district -- topping out at an incredible 356 meters high (1,168 feet). market has partly hampered by its neighbors The low-cost packages are to be designed between $350 to $440 for Travelers with a head for heights will know already that Gevora’s which are offering rather less expensive seven- to-eight-day tours to Tehran, Karaj, Hamedan or Tabriz. tower just barely trounces another Dubai sleeping spot -- the JW tours and travels. Marriott Marquis, which is just a meter shorter and was formerly the world’s tallest hotel. The luxurious Gevora is decked out in gold and includes a health club, sauna, pool and five glitzy restaurants. Iran automobile club to hold rally The Art Deco-style design accommodates 528 rooms -- with accommodation falling into three categories: Deluxe Room (46 from Mashhad to Karbala square meters), One-Bedroom Deluxe (62 square meters) and Two-Bedroom Suite (85 square meters). TOURISM TEHRAN — On February 23, the Touring shari added. The four-star Gevora is designed to cater to business and leisure deskand Automobile Club of Iran will kick- A total of 50 cars are scheduled to compete in the three- needs -- there’s a pool with a view and a cafe and bake shop -- but start a family car rally, which its detailed itinerary spans day rally, which is named “From Shrine to Shrine.” also a business center and boardroom. some 2,000 kilometers from Mashhad, northeast Iran, to Their itinerary will include Semnan, Boroujerd, Ilam, There are plenty of culinary delights too -- Gevora Kitchen will Karbala, central Iraq. and the border city of Mehran, he explained. offer all-day dining, whilst Highest View Restaurant promises “This rally will take place along a major pilgrimage route On Thursday and Friday, the Touring and Automobile panoramic views from the hotel rooftop. that is starched from the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) Club organized another rally during which 31 vintage cars Despite the dizzy heights at Gevora -- the building isn’t the to the holy shrine of Imam Hossein (AS),” CHTN quoted vied form Tehran to Abyaneh village in Isfahan. world’s highest hotel. the club’s director, Ramin Afshari, as saying. Filled from corner to corner with ancient bazaars, mu- That honor goes to The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong -- a five- The rally pursues a goal of promoting a safe motoring seums, mosques, monuments, gardens, historical sites, star hotel which sits way up on the 102nd to 118th floors of the culture which demands patience and endurance both for rich natural and rural landscapes, Iran hosts some of the 488-meter International Commerce Centre. drivers and passengers and it also aims to take a closer world’s oldest cultural monuments, including 22 UNESCO The Gevora Hotel has been officially recognized by the Guinness look into natural, historical and religious attractions, Af- World Heritage Sites. A poster of Mashhad-to-Karbala car rally World Records as the world’s tallest hotel -- and with that honor in hand, it’s open for bookings. (Source: CNN) 6.5 million Chinese tourists to travel abroad this Lunar New Year ROUND THE GLOBE China’s outbound tourism during the holiday long holiday that runs through February 20. for people such as Xie. city. “Short trips to tourist destinations in is expected to rise by 5.7 percent over 2017. According to a report published joint- “Great meals were rarely available to people Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces are well Manu National Park Chinese people are breaking with tradition ly by Ctrip, the mainland’s largest online in those days,” he said. “Dinners prepared for received by people.” as celebrations get under way this Lunar New travel agency, and China Tourism Academy, family gatherings during the festival were no Last year, revenue generated by the tour- Manu National Park is a globally renowned haven of terrestrial Year. Family reunions are increasingly being a research institution under the China Na- less than a feast, and children like me could ism sector during Lunar New Year topped biodiversity at the meeting point of the Tropical Andes and replaced by outings and trips to scenic spots, tional Tourism Administration, the number get a taste of delicacies such as roast duck.” 423 billion yuan nationwide, according to the Amazon Basin in Southwestern Peru. or places of interest in neighboring provinces. of outbound tourists during the Lunar New The tourism industry has emerged as the China National Tourism Administration. As a vast, geographically and economically isolated water- Xie Zhiwei, 44, a middle manager at a Year holiday is expected to rise by 5.7 per- the top beneficiary of the “Golden Week”, The change in how Chinese people cele- shed, the still roadless property has been spared from most state-owned home builder in Shanghai, said cent from 2017 to hit an all-time high of 6.5 the seven-day public holiday during Lunar brate festivals, particularly those in urban human impacts and is difficult to access to this day. deciding to take his family to Taiwan during million this year. New Year, over the past decade. According areas, not only underscores a profound shift The originally inscribed area was extended to 1,716,295 the Lunar New Year holiday, which starts on Just a decade ago, Lunar New Year – a to the joint report, 344 million mainland in traditional Chinese events such as Lunar hectares in 2009, spanning the complete altitudinal gradient Thursday, was “a big leap of faith”. festival steeped in tradition – represented Chinese travelled domestically during the New Year, but also depicts a new picture of the Eastern slope of the Andes from around 350 to above “In my dictionary, outings during the high season for businesses such as restaurants, Lunar New Year holiday last year, with per of business in the world’s second-biggest 4,000 m.a.s.l. Spring Festival are something akin to a ta- shops, garment makers and food processors. capita spending hitting 3,500 yuan (US$560). economy. boo,” he said. “During the most important “Those days are now history,” said Xie. “The Spring Festival used to be low sea- China’s service sector accounted for 51.6 festival in China, all we need to do is stay “Economic growth and rising incomes have son for travel agencies, but business started percent of its gross domestic product in 2017, with the parents and relatives at home, to played a vital role in reshaping the festival.” booming three years ago, prompting us to up from about 30 percent in the early 1980s. enjoy a family reunion. We are not supposed Chinese millennials give luxury brands a design more products to cater to customers,” In Shanghai, the mainland’s most devel- to do anything else.” boost as they earn and spend it all said Annie Ren, a manager with Shanghai oped metropolis, the service sector represented Xie is among 6.5 million mainland Chinese In the 1980s, the Lunar New Year was Jinjiang International Travel, one of the about 70 percent of the city’s GDP last year. tourists who will travel abroad in the week- synonymous with good food and fireworks largest tourist companies operating in the (Source: South China Morning Post) The right way to order room service at a hotel Room service has a reputation for being overpriced and bother ordering it. Mr. Nail said that it will be a pancake by under-seasoned. Here are a few techniques to make sure the time it reaches you. Club sandwiches and Caesar salads, your room service meals are worth your money and appetite. on the other hand, travel especially well. Room service is often the last refuge of business trave- If there’s a regional dish or specialty on the menu, how- lers, and an overpriced, under-seasoned option for trave- ever, go for it. Mr. Nail said that these local specialties have A view of Manu National Park in Peru lers without many options. According to Martyn Nail, the been some of his best meals on the road. The in some places precipitous transition includes high executive chef of Claridge’s hotel in London and author of Go off-menu Andean Puna grasslands, mountain cloud forests, Yunga the recently released “Claridge’s: The Cookbook,” “the food Don’t be afraid to order off the menu, Mr. Nail said. “Hotel forests and lowland rainforest. you get isn’t necessarily a reflection of who prepared it,” he kitchens tend to have a wide variety of ingredients on hand, Fed from numerous whitewater creeks in the mountains, said. “There’s an art to ordering room service.” He has a and if the chefs have time, they are happy to make you what the Manu River meanders through the lowland forests, before few tried and tested ways to make sure every room service you want,” he said. Just be reasonable and ask politely, and it joins the mighty Madre de Dios River at the Southern edge of meal is a good one. you’ll have great results. the property. As evidenced by Incan and Pre-Incan ruins and Order course-by-course If you’re craving a specific dish, such as chicken potpie petroglyphs, there is a long history of indigenous occupation. If Mr. Nail isn’t in a rush, he requests that his meal is or meatloaf, ask for it but with a caveat: give advance notice, The local legend of Paititi, according to which the “Lost delivered in courses because the food tastes fresher and the preferably 12 hours, if you want a labor-intensive dish or City of the Incas” is located within what is today the property, dining experience feels more special and leisurely. Surpris- something particularly special. has lured researchers and adventurers alike. ingly, most hotel kitchens have no problem fulfilling this Always order through a live person Today, various indigenous peoples are the only permanent request. “I don’t like the idea of my entree getting cold while Pick up the phone and speak to someone to place your inhabitants. Some of them are sedentary and in regular contact I have my starter, and if I’m having ice cream for dessert, it’s order, even if you have the option to do it electronically with the “modern world”, while others maintain a semi-no- going to be melted by the time I get to it,” he said. through a tablet, app or your in-room television. madic lifestyle as hunter-gatherers in so-called “voluntary Choose the right dishes Mr. Nail said that your order taker is your guide through isolation” or “initial contact”, respectively. Consider how well a dish will travel before you order it. the menu and can share suggestions such as side dishes to The immense variety of Manu National Park in terms of Many hotel kitchens are in the basement while your room pair with your entree that you may not have thought of. altitude, microclimate, soils and other ecological conditions might be on a high floor, which means that your meal could Some of those options may be upsells, but talking to a real results in a complex mosaic of habitats and niches. take up to 10 minutes to reach you after it leaves the kitchen, While hot items are usually delivered in a hot box, they person is the only way to hear the daily specials, or ask about (Source: UNESCO) and that’s not including any other room service deliveries can still arrive lukewarm. Soups are the exception and tend options that may not be included in the menu. along the way. to stay hot. Also, if you see a soufflé on the menu, don’t (Source: The New York Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 18, 2018 SCI/MED 11 Stem-cell vaccine helps protect mice Study shows alcohol could be more damaging to the brain against numerous cancers, finds study than marijuana A new study published in the journal Cell introduced into the body to activate T-helper Stem Cell, conducted by scientists from Stan- cells or to produce antibodies being able to Booze could be more damaging to your brain than weed - ac- ford University, revealed that when the lab identify and bind the antigens on the surfaces cording to a recent study which linked alcohol consumption mice were injected with inactivated induced of cancer cells. to long-term changes to parts of the brain, but didn’t find pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), there was a What surprised us most was the effec- any long-term changes in relation to marijuana. powerful immune response against lung, tiveness of the iPSC vaccine in re-activating The study found that the negative effects of drinking were breast, and skin cancers. The vaccine also the immune system to target cancer. This worse for adults over the age of 18, but that even in younger prevented animals with removed tumors approach may have clinical potential to people there was a noticeable effect on reducing the levels of from relapsing. prevent tumor recurrence or target distant grey matter, the stuff that processes information in the brain. iPSCs can be obtained directly from adult metastases.” But the researchers are keen to point out that it’s a com- cells, which are genetically reprogrammed Immune system plex picture – more work is going to be needed to figure out to imitate the ability of embryonic stem cells There are a very few number of antigens exactly what these drugs do to the connections inside our to develop into any type of cell in the body. that can be introduced at a specific time to the neural networks. The current study involved 75 mice with immune system which is one of the biggest “With alcohol, we’ve known it’s bad for the brain for different versions of iPSC vaccine obtained challenges of cancer immunotherapies. The decades,” says one of the team, Kent Hutchison from the from inactivated iPSCs by irradiation. In a current study utilizes cells of an animal to University of Colorado Boulder. period of 4 weeks, 70% of the iPSC vaccinated generate an iPSC-based cancer vaccine that The research looked at brain scans collected in previous mice completely rejected the newly injected simultaneously targets the multiple antigens studies, covering 853 people aged between 18 and 55, and breast cancer cells, whereas 30% had con- of a tumor. The need to find the most ideal 439 young adults aged between 14 and 18. A range of dif- siderably smaller tumors. The influence of antigen to target in a specific type of tumor ferent levels of cannabis and alcohol use were reported by the iPSC vaccine was also validated for skin is prevented by using whole iPSCs. the participants. and lung cancers. iPSCs’ immune system is the key to remove The effectiveness of anti-cancer vaccines The current study is less exposed to im- As well as reducing the volume of grey matter in the brain, Cancer cells tumor cells. is high only when one or more antigens are mune evasion by cancer cells with the help alcohol use was associated with a loss of integrity in the white Joseph C. Wu, the lead author at Stanford’s of large amount of tumor antigens present matter – the parts of the brain that handle communications Cardiovascular Institute and Institute for The effectiveness of anti-cancer in iPSCs. The investigators also introduced between grey matter clusters, as well as links to the rest of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine iPSCs with an immunity booster–a particle the body. established that a large number of antigens vaccines is high only when one or more of bacterial DNA called CpG that has been In other words, any kind of damage to grey or white matter found on iPSCs are also found on cancer cells. antigens are introduced into the body considered to be safe in human trials. can impair the brain’s normal function. The negative effects When iPSC vaccine is injected into lab mice, to activate T-helper cells or to produce In the future, a patient’s blood cells or were particularly pronounced for people with a long history their immune systems develop an immune the skin may be re-programmed into iPSCs of drinking, the researchers said. response to the iPSCs’ antigens. Due to the antibodies being able to identify and and executed as an anti-cancer vaccine or as (Source: sciencealert.com) similar characteristics of cancer cells and bind the antigens on the surfaces of consecutive booster after surgery, radiation iPSCs, the animals instantaneously develop cancer cells. therapy, or chemotherapy. an immune response against cancer. The (Source: news-medical.net) A massive vortex on Neptune Martian crater has a weirdly At last, butterflies get a bigger, is evaporating before our eyes Neptune might not have the mass of Jupiter or the rings Earth-like secret: new research better evolutionary tree of Saturn, but it does have one distinction among planets NASA’s Mars rover Opportunity was ex- volcano, according to NASA. There, stripes For hundreds of years, butterfly collecting subfamily. Their findings paint a detailed in our solar system. Its winds are the fastest ever meas- ploring an uncharted Martian valley last form when fine-grain soil freezes overnight has often inspired a special kind of fanati- picture of relationships between butterflies ured, even reaching supersonic speeds at times. Neptune’s month when it encountered a shockingly and expands, pushing up larger chunks of cism, spurring lengthy expeditions, sparking and point to some name changes. tumultuous atmosphere gives rise to vortices similar to familiar sight: Streams of rocks and gravel rock on either side. After the soil thaws in rivalries and prompting some collectors to The data confirm that swallowtails are a Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, but storms on Neptune usually stretched down the hillside of Perseverance the morning, wind and gravity gradually risk their fortunes and skins in their quest sister group to all other butterflies, meaning just last a few years. Valley — a roughly 600-foot (183 meters) move these larger stones downslope from for the next elusive specimen. they were the first family on the butterfly drop down the inner slope of a crater — in the moist, fine-grain segments of soil. The result is a treasure trove of scientific family tree to branch off. But while previous seemingly organized rows. When repeated hundreds of thousands of information stored in the form of millions of literature groups swallowtails, birdwings, The patterns closely resemble so-called times, these alternating regions of fine and butterfly specimens, offering insights into zebra swallowtails and swordtails together, “rock stripes” seen on certain mountains heavy rocks create a distinct striped pattern. community ecology, how species originate this study shows they do not share a com- on Earth, NASA said in a statement. These Researchers don’t yet know how these and evolve, climate change and interactions mon ancestor, a finding supported by the formations usually result when wet soil freez- patterns came to appear in a Martian crater, between plants and insects. fact that these butterflies feed on different es and thaws repeatedly over many years, but the scientists have a few hypotheses. Lepidopterists Akito Kawahara and Mar- host plants. NASA said. Perseverance Valley is thought The planet’s obliquity ianne Espeland led a team effort to produce a “That tells us that butterflies and plants to have been carved hundreds of thousands One leading explanation involves the plan- bigger, better butterfly evolutionary tree with may have evolved together,” Kawahara said. of years ago by a combination of water, ice et’s obliquity — or the tilt of Mars’ equator a 35-fold increase in genetic data and three A finding that surprised Espeland, the and wind — already making the spot unusual relative to its orbit — which is thought to times as many taxa - classification units of study’s lead author, is that the blues are by Martian standards, NASA wrote. alter significantly over hundreds of thou- organisms - as previous studies. They then nested within the hairstreaks. The presence of these newly discovered sands of years. If the planet’s obliquity were calibrated the tree based on the fossil record, Substantial rearrangement stripes further adds to the region’s mystery, to change enough, water currently frozen assigning dates to certain developmental “Both of these groups have remained researchers said. at the poles could vaporize into the atmos- milestones. quite stable through time, but our study Mars rover phere and turn to snow or frost closer to the Butterfly evolution shows that a substantial rearrangement of We first learned of Neptune’s “anticyclones” when the “Perseverance Valley is a special place,” equator, NASA said. “We still have a long way to go, but this the classification is necessary,” said Espeland, NASA Voyager 2 probe passed by in 1989. They were not Opportunity Deputy Principal Investigator “One possible explanation of these stripes is the first comprehensive map of butterfly who started the project as a postdoctoral as large or as long-lived as Jupiter’s famous Red Spot, but Ray Arvidson of Washington University is that they are relics from a time of greater evolution,” said Kawahara, associate professor researcher at the Florida Museum and is they could still tell us a great deal about the planet. The in St. Louis said in the statement. “We al- obliquity, when snow packs on the rim (of the and curator at the Florida Museum of Natural now curator and head of the Lepidoptera probe sent back images of dark spirals on the surface, and ready knew it was unlike any place any Mars valley) seasonally melted enough to moisten History’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera section at the Zoological Research Museum a few years later astronomers started monitoring Neptune rover has seen before, even if we don’t yet the soil, and then freeze-thaw cycles organized and Biodiversity on the University of Florida Alexander Koenig in Germany. with the Hubble Space Telescope. know how it formed, and now we’re seeing the small rocks into stripes,” Arvidson said. campus. “Lots of previous studies cover but- Most blues and hairstreaks and some Storms on Neptune are dark in color because of the way surfaces that look like stone stripes. It’s Further study of the region will be required terfly evolution on smaller scales - by locality metalmarks have mutually beneficial rela- the planet’s currents operate. There are three dominant mysterious. It’s exciting. I think the set — and, for now, the Opportunity rover seems or taxon - but surprisingly few have reached tionships with ants: Butterfly larvae pro- wind jets on Neptune. One goes from east to west at the of observations we’ll get will enable us to up to the task. The golf-cart-size rover landed across the breadth of butterfly diversity.” vide sugary nectar in exchange for the ants’ equator, and two others go west to east near the planet’s understand it.” on Mars in January 2004 to begin what was The team analyzed a dataset of 352 ge- protection from predators. The researchers poles. The anticyclones form between these jets, pulling up In particular, the rock stripes of Per- supposed to be a 90-day mission hunting netic markers from 207 butterfly species found this association evolved once in blues darker material from below the top layer of clouds. From severance Valley closely resemble stripes for clues about Martian water. representing 98 percent of tribes, which are and hairstreaks and twice in metalmarks. what we know of Neptune’s atmosphere, scientists have seen inside the cone of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea (Source: Live Science) a rank above genus but below family and (Source: eurekalert.org) made some guesses about how a storm would behave when it dissipated. However, the reality is looking much different. Previous simulations of vortex dissipation on Neptune ICT Minister Says Easier Facilities to Be Provided for Business Marketing predicted that the storm would drift toward the equator. As it neared the jet stream, the vortex would be torn apart Minister of Communications and Information Technology conference announced: “We, in Iran, are seeking to be and possibly produce an explosion of cloud activity. What’s (ICT) Eng. Azari Jahromi said: “By defining temporal present in the international area, so that Nowruz and actually happening is less visually impressive. The storm and geographical domains such as Nowruz and Pars, Pars suffices, as a Iran’s national identity, can help us is drifting toward the south pole and slowly eroding as it easier facilities will be provided for new and old busi- enter this arena successfully.” gets closer. ness marketing.” For her part, Dr. Neda Soleimani senior marketer of (Source: extremetech.com) Speaking on the sidelines of his visit to Iran Web PARDIS MIZBAN Advertising Company said: “It is for and Mobile Exhibition in PARDIS MIZBAN Pavilion, some years that the number of internet extension has been exclusive broker for selling suffice of domains including increased by ICON Institute. After that, these licenses Nowruz and Pars in Iran), he stated, “Naturally, easier were given to a number of applicant companies, so that Gene-editing tool to detect amenities and facilities will be created for old and new many extensions have been provided available to users.” infections such as dengue, business marketing with the definition of specific and These internet extensions all we know are “com”, “org”, temporal domains and also geographical domains such and “net” that have entered into the internet arena and Zika virus, HPV as Nowruz and Pars.” have provided suitable ways to name their own portfolio Managers of PARDIS MIZBAN Company in a news with geographic, subject and functional categories. New diagnostic tools have been developed using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) gene editing tool. A bunch of researchers were able to come up with new CRISPR variants that can diagnose certain Emergency Landing of Qeshm Air’s Plane to Be Compensated by IIC Timely diseases, detect viruses, and even record a cell’s exposure Iran Insurance Company (IIC) will com- ing in Mashhad, Iran Insurance Company insurances, and thankfully, any passen- managers of Qeshm Air. to chemicals. pensate the emergency landing of Qeshm announced that it will pay any damages ger of the plane did not harm due to the With due observance to the said issue, CRISPR is typically associated with its potential use for Air aircraft in Mashhad as soon as possible, incurred to the plane in the shortest time emergency landing of the aircraft. the insurance company has expressed its treating diseases such as HIV, ALS, and even Huntington’s the Public Relations Dept. of the company possible. Experts of the insurance company readiness to compensate the damages disease, but researchers have come up with new ways that reported. According to the insurance company, studied the dimension of the accident incurred to the plane at the earliest op- make it an even more powerful diagnostic tool. In the wake of a technical problem in this plane was fully insured by the company immediately after the incident, the issue portunity, the Public Relations Dept. of The first study comes from Jennifer Doudna, an American Qeshm Air aircraft and its emergency land- including body, third-party and passenger of which was negotiated with the senior the company concluded. biochemist and leading figure of the CRISPR revolution. Her team of researchers have produced a variant of the CRISPR tool that is able not only to cut through specific bits of dou- ble-stranded DNA but also snip single-stranded DNA near ICT Minister Says Easier Facilities to Be Provided for Business Marketing it. After discovering this, the team used CRISPR to detect a Minister of Communications and Information Technology present in the international area, so that Nowruz and Pars couple of common types of HPV. (ICT) Eng. Azari Jahromi said: “By defining temporal and suffices, as a Iran’s national identity, can help us enter this The second study comes from Feng Zhang, another CRIS- geographical domains such as Nowruz and Pars, easier facil- arena successfully.” PR pioneer. Last year, his lab developed a system called ities will be provided for new and old business marketing.” For her part, Dr. Neda Soleimani senior marketer of SHERLOCK, which is able to detect bits of DNA and RNA Speaking on the sidelines of his visit to Iran Web and PARDIS MIZBAN Advertising Company said: “It is for to analyze whether fatal viruses such as Zika or dengue are Mobile Exhibition in PARDIS MIZBAN Pavilion, exclusive some years that the number of internet extension has been in a blood sample. broker for selling suffice of domains including Nowruz and increased by ICON Institute. After that, these licenses were “SHERLOCK provides an inexpensive, easy-to-use, and Pars in Iran), he stated, “Naturally, easier amenities and given to a number of applicant companies, so that many sensitive diagnostic method for detecting nucleic acid material facilities will be created for old and new business market- extensions have been provided available to users.” — and that can mean a virus, tumor DNA, and many other ing with the definition of specific and temporal domains These internet extensions all we know are “com”, “org”, targets,” said Zhang. The “SHERLOCK improvements now and also geographical domains such as Nowruz and Pars.” and “net” that have entered into the internet arena and give us even more diagnostic information and put us closer Managers of PARDIS MIZBAN Company in a news have provided suitable ways to name their own portfolio to a tool that can be deployed in real-world applications.” conference announced: “We, in Iran, are seeking to be with geographic, subject and functional categories. David Liu’s team of researchers devised two ways to do this. (Source: Tech Times) ساعت: 17:10 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 12 SOCIETY FEBRUARY 18, 2018

Tehran Municipality to hold Iran health minister appointed startup weekend in support of green businesses WHO commissioner on NCDs ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — A startup weekend event will 1 The commission on NCDs is co-chaired dying of noncommunicable diseases, such as heart deskbe held by Tehran Municipality in a bid to by President Tabaré Vázquez of Uruguay; disease and diabetes, than infectious diseases. support businesses which are eager to work in environment-re- President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka; “This loss of human life spares no one- rich lated fields, said Sadreddin Alipour, the head of the center for President Sauli Niinistö of Finland; Veron- or poor, young or old - and it imposes heavy environmental management and sustainable development of ika Skvortsova, Minister of Healthcare of economic costs on nations. The more public Tehran Municipality. the Russian Federation; and Sania Nishtar, support we can build for government policies This is the first startup weekend by the title of “environment former Federal Minister of Pakistan. that are proven to save lives - as this Com- and urban management” which is going to be held by Tehran The commission is comprised of heads mission will work to do - the more progress Municipality from February 28 to March 2 in Tehran’s Shahid of state and ministers, leaders in health and we›ll be able to make around the world,» Beheshti University. development and entrepreneurs. The Com- Bloomberg added. missioners are tasked with recommending Co-chair Dr. Nishtar says the Commission’s actions to facilitate and accelerate progress establishment has come at an opportune time, in addressing and preventing NCDs as the as the world prepares for the UN High-level main leading killers on earth, mainly car- Meeting on NCDs. “While there have been diovascular disease, cancers, diabetes and improvements in some countries and regions, respiratory disease, and promoting mental the overall rate of progress has been unac- health and well-being. ceptably slow. This is resulting in too many World leaders are expected to participate people suffering and dying needlessly from in the third United Nations General Assem- NCDs, and leaving families, communities bly High-level Meeting on NCDs in order and governments to bear the human and to meet the need to speed up action to beat economic costs,” she lamented, stating, “This NCDs which is high on the global political year, governments will be held to account on agenda in 2018. The commission will provide progress they have made in protecting their actionable recommendations to contribute citizens from NCDs.” to the assembly which is scheduled for the According to the Non-Communicable second half of 2018. Health Minister Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi is delivering a speech in WHO headquarters Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology NCDs claim 15 million lives mostly aging and Metabolism research Institute 76 percent Traffic management, air pollution, sustainable management of in Geneva in June 2017. between 30 and 69 each year worldwide. Most of the burden of the diseases in Iran comes water resources, waste management and biodiversity are among particularly some 50 percent of premature Sustainable Development Goals. Recent WHO show us new ways to unblock the barriers to from NCDs. the main topics of this event. deaths caused by NCDs occur in low- and reports indicate that the world will struggle good health, and identify innovative, bold In line with WHO’s activities to combat The purpose of these startup events is that individuals get a lower-middle income countries. Additionally to meet that target. and practical actions steps to scale up pre- NCDs in 2015 Iran established a committee chance to put forward their ideas, Tasnim quoted Alipour as saying. NCDs are responsible for the deaths of 7 in In a news release made by WHO on Fri- vention and treatment of NCDs and provide called National Non-Communicable Disease The municipality will support top ideas and will facilitate 10 people across all ages globally, equivalent day Director-General Tedros emphasized on health for all.” Committee at the Ministry of Health headed by their presence in global events, he highlighted. to approximately 40 million people. everybody’s right to a healthy life, adding that, Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Am- the health minister Qazizadeh-Hashemi which Considering environment as a one of the main elements of In 2015, world leaders committed to re- “We can beat the drivers of the NCD epidemic, bassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and was endorsed by the then Director-General world’s metropolises, he added that 60 percent of all projects duce premature deaths from NCDs by one which are among the world’s main obstacles Commission member, also regretted the fact of the World Health Organization Margaret carrying out in the city are related to the environment. third by 2030 as part of the United Nations’ to health. I am looking to the Commission to that for the first time in history more people are Chan Fung Fu-chun. Startup weekend is a 54-hour weekend event, during which groups of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more pitch ideas for new startup companies, form teams around those ideas, and work Spring rainfalls to exceed normal average: academic to develop a working prototype, demo, or presentation by the ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Meteorological patterns “People should not worry since future precipitation will Drought and crisis management department of Iran’s last evening of the event. deskdemonstrate that the country will receive lead to partial improvement of this [drought] status and Meteorological Organization issued a report on the country’s appropriate amounts of rainfall in the upcoming spring and water reservation in dams,” highlighted the professor. precipitation status from September 23, 2017 to February 16. it will compensate for the lack of precipitation in autumn Iranians generally hope that the projections of the dis- The report shows that the amount of precipitation in Benefactors to provide and winter, said the eminent meteorology professor Hos- tinguished scientists comes true but the thing is it may not. the country has been minus 75.2 percent compared to the sein Ardakani. Officials are repeatedly talking about lack of precipitation long-term amounts. All provinces, except northwestern underprivileged students “Study of rainfall patterns shows that we will observe and drought in the country and call for appropriate use of province of Ardabil, have a minus proportion – including with Noruz clothing appropriate rain in the spring and the level of precipitation water in domestic, agriculture and industry sectors. even northern provinces like Mazandaran and Gilan which will even reach above the normal range,” Tasnim quoted For one, Tehran’s Governor General Mohammad Hos- are well-known for substantiate precipitation rate. Ardakani as saying on Friday. sein Moqimi highlighted that despite of heavy snow and Even if, as the scientist said, we receive appropriate and SOCIETY TEHRAN – Some 24,000 students who live Ardakani, who is known as Iran’s father of meteorology, recent rains, the country is still facing drought and urged enough rainfalls, there exists really no excuse for not chang- deskin single-parent and impoverished families in had successfully forecasted recent day’s rains and informed all people to reconsider their water consumption patterns, ing our water consumption patterns – after all, who doesn’t Tehran have been identified and benefactors will provide them the meteorologist society about it earlier. Khabaronline reported. know that Iran is a dry region? with clothes for Noruz, the Iranian new year holidays, starting March 21, said Kamyab Sadri, the head of parenting and teaching society of Tehran affiliated to the Ministry of Education. Special vouchers will be given to these students so that they Medicinal plants: The next big thing in economic arena? can get three clothing items from marketplaces which will be SOCIETY TEHRAN — Given Global herbal market size is estimated desk held accordingly, he added. water shortage in Iran approximately $72 billion which is predict- He went on to say that last year they could provide 2,000 as an arid and semi-arid area, shifting ed to reach $7 trillion by 2050. Medicinal students with Noruz clothing. focus toward cultivation of medicinal plants are used in various industries which Just 31 days remain till the start of the new Iranian calendar plants can both create jobs and boost are worth around $80 billion. year and its special celebrations known as Noruz. One of Iranian export revenues in line with the goals Europe is the largest herbal product traditions in Noruz is that family members, especially children, of resistance economy, deputy health market valued at $7.5 billion and has wear new attire. minister for social affairs said on Friday. 40% market share. China has the highest This act of benefactors will certainly bring smile to the cute There exist some 8,000 medicinal number of medicinal plants and also is faces of those impoverished kids whose wishes are often too plants species in Iran, however, a great the leader in export of medicinal plants trivial and commonplace in the eyes of the majority. number of factories processing medicinal globally having 15% sharing global export plants import raw materials, Seyyed Mo- under this category. hammad Ayyazi regretted, adding, this Indian system of medicine use 90% raw LEARN ENGLISH is while there is an untapped potential in material derived from medicinal plants. this sector to both produce such products Rich in natural resource base, 90% of the Learning How to Drive and exporting them. medicinal plants are presently situated Ayyazi made the remarks over a cer- in wild forests. A: Ok! I’m ready for my driving lesson! Should I start the car? emony marking a national campaign on In Iran, as Peyman Yousefi, an official B: Hold on there Fittipaldi, first let’s go over things one more time. medicinal herbs held in Tehran from Feb- with Agriculture Ministry said earlier in Now before you even think of starting the car, make sure your ruary 14-16, ISNA reported. December 2017, some 150,000 hectares seat is at a comfortable position and you can grip the steering He further highlighted that the ministry The photo is depicting a woman picking saffron at a farm in Bojnord, North Khorasan of lands are under cultivation of medic- wheel firmly. Next check your rear view mirrors to make is seriously supporting medicinal herbs province, in October 2016. Photo by Vahid Khademi/IRNA inal plants, however, “we do not have a sure you can see properly. producers and the minister has tasked significant share in global market.” A: We have been through this a million times! Let’s get going the Food and Drug administration to do low interest loan will be granted to the to encourage cultivation of medicinal Obviously, the lack of proper and already! I’m ready! what’s necessary to back the producers. villagers who are interested in cultivation plants, Razavi noted, Tasnim reported. standard practices in processing such B: Fine start the car. Now gently step on the clutch and shift to Abolfazl Razavi, the vice president of medicinal plants in rural areas of Iran. Unfortunately, he lamented, while 94 production, as well as old farming practices 1st gear. Good, now accelerate gently and let go of the clutch for development of villages and under- Following the approval of a recent law percent of world’s saffron is produced in is slowing down the country’s economy as you do it. There we go, good! privileged areas, for his part, explained in Majlis [the Iranian parliament], all Iran the export revenue merely amounts and keeping it away from a potentially A: I’m doing it! I’m driving! This is awesome! Let’s turn some that 80-billion-rial (nearly 1.6 million) villagers are entitled to such incentives to $650 million. lucrative industry, IANA reported. music on! B: Keep your eyes on the road! No music! We are coming up to a red light, step on the brakes. What are you doing? I said Want to monitor air the brakes! Look out for those people! Get off thesidewalk ! A: Get out of my way! This is just like playing video games! pollution? Test a pigeon B: It’s the police! Pull over! Pigeons might be seen as the scourge of cities, but A: They’ll never take me alive! researchers say they could help us explore both Key vocabulary the levels and impacts of a host of toxins in the air, grip: hold, reach from lead to pesticides. steering wheel: the wheel which the driver holds in a car Scientists say feral pigeons are a valuable way rear view mirror: a small angled mirror fixed inside the wind- of probing contaminants in environment, since screen of a motor vehicle enabling the driver to see the vehicle they are exposed to the same air, water, food and or road behind other factors as humans, and don’t venture far clutch: the pedal that you press before you change gear from home. gear: the machinery in a vehicle such as a car, truck, or bicycle “Because they are alive they process these chem- that you use to go comfortably at different speeds icals in their bodies. This offers up the opportunity accelerate: if a vehicle or someone who is driving it accelerates, to not only find toxin hot spots in our environment, it starts to go faster but to understand how these toxins affect biology,” let go of: to stop holding something or someone said Dr Rebecca Calisi of the University of Califor- brake: a piece of equipment that makes a vehicle go more slowly nia, Davis, who is presenting research on the topic or stop at the meeting of the American Association for the look out: used to warn someone that they are in danger; watch out Advancement of Science. sidewalk: the part of the road where people walk Previous work by Calisi and her team looking at pull over: to move a car to the side of the road and stop blood lead levels from 825 unwell pigeons across Supplementary vocabulary the New York City borough of Manhattan, collected seatbelt: a belt in a car fastened around the midsection to keep between 2010 and 2015, suggested that pigeons the person safely secured against the seat are a useful bioindicator of lead levels. The study speed limit: the maximum speed allowed on the road showed that blood levels of lead in the birds were intersection: a place where two or more major roads meet higher during the summer – an effect that has also traffic light:a set of electrically operated signal lights used to been noted in children. The team also found that direct or control traffic at intersections levels of lead in the pigeons’ blood were linked to yield sign: a road sign in the shape of an upside-down triangle, the rate of children with raised blood lead levels meaning to slow down and prepare to stop if necessary in the same part of the borough. (Source: irlanguage.com) (Source: The Guardian) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 18, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 As support falls, German SPD sees ‘no Brazil’s military takes over security in Rio de Janeiro Plan B’ to Merkel coalition after violence mars carnival Support for Germany’s Social Democrats mayor Olaf Scholz as interim leader and rec- (SPD) hit a record low, a poll showed, ommended Nahles as Schulz’s longer-term Brazil’s President Michel Temer on Friday handed the military and the party’s leader-in-waiting said she successor. full control of security in Rio de Janeiro in an increasingly des- had “no Plan B” should members reject Nahles has campaigned for a re-run of perate fight to tame runaway gang violence. a coalition deal with Angela Merkel’s the coalition that has been in power since Army patrols are already used in Rio’s gang-ruled favelas, but conservatives. 2013, and last month helped secure party a decree signed by Temer will now give the military full control The SPD’s 464,000 members vote in a delegates’ backing for the negotiations with of security operations in Rio state, which the president said had postal ballot beginning on Feb. 20 on whether a barnstorming speech. virtually been seized by organized crime gangs. the center-left party should go ahead with But the result of the members ballot, due The army will have primacy over the state police, a situation the agreement its leaders clinched last week on March 4, is wide open. unheard of since the country’s return to democracy in 1985 after to renew their power-sharing alliance with Many in the party harbor misgivings two decades of military rule. the chancellor’s CDU/CSU bloc. about sharing power with Merkel, believing “I am taking these extreme measures because circumstances “I am convinced we will get a majority,” the party should rebuild in opposition after demand it,” he said after signing the decree to combat seemingly Andrea Nahles, who senior SPD officials this suffering its worst result in last September’s endless waves of gang-driven violence. week endorsed as the party’s future leader, election since Germany became a federal “The government will give tough and firm answers, taking all told Der Spiegel magazine in comments pub- republic in 1949. necessary measures to eradicate organized crime.” lished on Saturday. “I don’t have a Plan B.” An influential member of Merkel’s con- He described organized crime as “a metastasis that spreads Nahles made the comments after a survey servative bloc said on Friday she should through the country and threatens the tranquility of our people”. conducted by pollster Infratest dimap from form a minority government, arguing the “We cannot passively accept the death of innocents,” Temer Feb. 13 to 15 showed support for the SPD Social Democrats would not be a reliable said in a speech at his Planalto palace in the capital Brasilia in fell to 16 percent, an all-time low and just partner. which he outlined the human cost of the violence. one percentage point ahead of the far-right The Infratest dimap poll for broadcaster “It is intolerable to be burying fathers and mothers, work- Alternative for Germany (AfD). ARD put support for Merkel’s conservative ers, policemen, young people and children and seeing whole The SPD has slid further into disarray and discontent over the succession process. The turmoil in the SPD has led to calls bloc at 33 percent, with the ecological Greens neighborhoods besieged, schools in the crosshairs of rifles and since its leaders struck the coalition deal, “The past days were very difficult, that is from some politicians in Merkel’s conservative on 13 percent, the radical Left party as on avenues transformed into trenches.” blighted by bitter divisions over whether true, and that is reflected in such numbers,” bloc to drop the coalition plan and form a 11 percent and the business-friendly Free Chamber of Deputies head Rodrigo Maia - who took part in a to team up again with Merkel, a loss of con- said Nahles. “But I am very hopeful we can minority government instead. Democrats (FDP) on 9 percent. preparatory meeting with the president a day earlier - described fidence in outgoing leader Martin Schulz that we can now start moving forward.” On Tuesday, the SPD appointed Hamburg (Source: Reuters) the move to reporters as “hard and extreme”. Congress is expected to ratify the decree within 10 days. The country has seen a wave of violence that prompted Raul Oxfam sexual misconduct just tip of Thousands of Catalans call for release Jungmann, the defense minister, to declare last month that “the iceberg: Haiti president of jailed independence leaders security system is broken”. Luiz Fernando Pezao, Rio state governor, issued an apology after the carnival in Rio was marred by violence and muggings: “We were not ready. There were mistakes in the first days and we reinforced the patrols.” (Source: The Telegraph) May: Britain committed to Europe’s future security

Theresa May has urged security cooperation by European Un- Haiti’s president says the prostitution scan- Reacting to Moise’s comments, spokes- Thousands of protesters have marched in government as it took control of institutions ion partners to continue in the aftermath of Brexit, on the second dal involving workers of British charity person for Geneva-based Doctors Without Catalonia’s main city of Barcelona, calling and dismantled the regional government. day of the annual Munich Security Conference. group Oxfam is only the tip of an iceberg, Borders (MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières) on Spain’s central government to release the Spain has branded the entire process The 54th international conference brings together government calling for widespread investigations into welcomed scrutiny on the aid sector and pro-secession leaders of the autonomous region. of seeking secession in Catalonia illegal. representatives and defense and security experts from across the globe. other aid organizations operating in the said the organization had zero tolerance The separatist supporters gathered in Senior leaders of the independence “The UK is just as committed to Europe’s security in the future Caribbean country. of sexual misconduct. city center on Friday to censure Madrid for drive were arrested on charges of rebellion as we have been in the past,” May said in her keynote speech Official reports recently revealed that Oxfam, one of the world’s biggest keeping Catalonia’s politicians, including and sedition while arrest warrants were on Saturday. Oxfam staff hired prostitutes while work- disaster relief charities, issued an apol- Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, leaders of issued for former Catalan leader Carles “This cannot be a time when any of us allow competition ing in Haiti following a devastating 2010 ogy this week for unspecified sexual two grassroots separatist groups who were Puigdemont and four of his cabinet mem- between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep-seated earthquake. misconduct uncovered in a 2011 internal arrested in the aftermath of the region’s bers, who have fled to Belgium. ideology to inhibit our cooperation and jeopardize the security “The Oxfam case is the visible part of the investigation. October 2017 secession referendum. However, the leaders caught in the crack- of our citizens.” iceberg,” Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise Hitting back at criticism over the pros- The protesters carried banners reading down managed to keep their majority in Catalo- Furthermore, European officials have previously accused May said in a phone interview with Reuters on titution scandal, the head of Oxfam de- “Free political prisoners!” and observed four nia’s parliament in snap elections in December. of wanting the best of both worlds for Brexit. Friday. “It is not only Oxfam, there are other nounced the claim as “out of proportion,” minutes of silence to show their solidarity Their lawyers now argue that Spain On June 23, 2016, Britain voted in favor of Brexit, with the NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and said the charity has agreed not to bid with the jailed Catalan leaders. should set them free so that they can Leave campaign receiving 52 percent in a referendum. in the same situation, but they hide the for any more state funds until reforms are President of the Catalan Parliament, perform their political duties. May pledged to protect EU citizens’ rights in Britain after information internally.” in place. Roger Torrent, also took part in the rally. Earlier this month, three jailed leaders, Brexit, saying that decisions by the European Court of Justice “There should be an investigation into The aid group also said it would cre- During the event, Albano Dante Fachin, including Sanchez, Cuixart and Oriol Jun- (ECJ) would be taken into account by British courts. other organizations that have been working ate an independent commission with the a former member of Podemos Party, con- queras, said they would take their cases to the (Source: AL Jazeera) here since 2010,” he added. “For example, power to access records and interview demned the detention of the Catalan leaders. UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Doctors Without Borders had to repatriate staff, and impose stricter controls on Catalonia declared secession following to protest their imprisonments, which they about 17 people for misconduct which was employees. the October referendum. That declaration said were hampering their political activities. not explained.” (Source: Press TV) prompted a major crackdown by the Spanish (Source: Press TV) Morgan Tsvangirai: From a Trump had affair with ex-Playboy model nickel miner to an icon The United States President Donald Trump had an affair with ness and the media. 8 a Playboy model at the same time he was in a relationship The latest allegation of Trump’s extramarital affair and a Tsvangirai remained stubborn with a porn star and an American tabloid company paid the subsequent payoff mirrors the account of Stephanie Clifford, Tsvangirai could have remained stubborn, but he compro- model $150,000 to prevent her story being made public, a former porn star who Trump met at a golf event in 2006, mised and joined Mugabe as prime minister, in the coalition according to a report. a year after his marriage to Melania. arrangement brokered by then South African President Tha- In a piece published on Friday in The New York- Trump’s lawyer had arranged a $130,000 payment to bo Mbeki. Tsvangirai always said he decided to work with his er magazine, Karen McDougal claimed that she had a Clifford a month before the 2016 presidential election tormentor-in-chief because it was the necessary step to take in nine-month affair with Trump from June 2006 until to prevent her from publicly discussing the alleged order to save lives. April 2007. sexual encounter, The Wall Street Journal reported The economy was in seriously bad shape and Zimbabweans McDougal claims Trump met her at a Playboy party in last month. were in a desperate situation. As it happened, Zimbabweans had Los Angeles, California, in June 2006 during a taping of Nearly 20 women have accused Trump of sexual mis- much respite during those five years of the coalition government. his reality show, the Apprentice. conduct, ranging from unwanted touching to groping to Things got worse after 2013, when Mugabe again claimed victory The story was first reported by The Wall Street Journal in assault. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and sometimes in very controversial circumstances. November 2016, though McDougal declined to comment claimed that he does not know the women. The White House During his long struggle for democracy, Tsvangirai endured at that time. has called his accusers liars. several unlawful detentions, beatings and torture at the hands McDougal said American Media Inc, which owns the Na- fake news. The president says he never had a relationship Weeks before the presidential election last November, The of the Mugabe regime. The most vicious of these attacks was tional Enquirer, paid her $150,000 for signing a contract that with McDougal,” a White House spokesperson said. Washington Post released a tape in which Trump boasted on March 11, 2007, when he was bashed mercilessly by state granted the company exclusive ownership of her account. The new report comes amid an ongoing wave of revelations about how he sexually assaulted women because he was security agents while preparing to attend a prayer meeting in The White House has denied allegations of an affair between about sexual harassment in the U.S., which has toppled a powerful. the suburb of Highfields. Trump and Clifford. “This is an old story that is just more number of powerful men in entertainment, politics, busi- (Source: agencies) It was this ugly spectacle that awakened Africa and the rest of the world to the sadist nature of the Mugabe regime and prompted them to take a more hands-on approach. Despite all the heavy challenges that he faced, Tsvangirai Trio of suicide bombers kill 20 at crowded market in Nigeria remained resolute. Internally, he faced criticism from some of A trio of suicide bombers detonated at a crowd- women and youth as bombers, often after medium, alleging that the wanted factional ISWAP/Group of the People of Sunnah for his comrades, with whom he had founded the party, but, towards ed fish market in northern Nigeria, killing abducting and indoctrinating them. terrorists’ group leader, Abubakar Shekau, Preaching and Jihad and commonly known as the end of his life, he had been reunited with them under the at least 20 people, police said on Saturday. Boko Haram: Nigerian Army is in Kolofata, Republic of Cameroon. Boko Haram until March 2015, is a terrorist banner of the MDC Alliance. Borno state police spokesman Joseph speaks on Shekau’s ‘escape’ “The report alleged that a top Boko Har- organization based in northeastern Nige- Some argued that he probably stayed on too long as leader Kwaji confirmed the Friday night attack to Elsewhere, Nigerian Army on Friday am commander; Abdullahi Bello, alias Abu ria, also active in Chad, Niger and northern of the opposition, but he always maintained that the job they The Associated Press. Hospital officials said dismissed as “misleading” reports indicat- Zainab, who was captured by the Nigerian Cameroon. had started in 1999 needed to be completed. Towards the end, two patients later died from their injuries. ing that the Boko Haram factional leader, Army on February 14, disclosed that Shekau Founded by Mohammed Yusuf in however, he was preparing to hand over to a new generation, as The bombers, all believed to be female, Abubakar Shekau, escaped to Cameroon. escaped to Cameroon. 2002, the group has been led by Abubakar he put it in his statement. He was unwell and he knew that he left dozens wounded at the fish market in Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka, the Director, “This is not true; the Nigerian Army did Shekau since 2009. From March 2015 could not carry on any longer. Konduga, just outside the state capital, Mai- Army Public Relations, said in a statement not arrest such person, neither do we have to August 2016, the group was briefly Sadly, his party is severely divided, as different factions vie to duguri. The city is the birthplace of the Boko issued in Maiduguri that the army was not such suspect in our custody. aligned with the Islamic State in Iraq and succeed him. The greatest irony in this moment after his death Haram terrorist insurgency and has been a aware of the whereabouts of the fugitive Boko “Contrary to the allegations, the Nigerian the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist outfit. is that those who fought him and beat him up are giving him frequent target. Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau. Army is not aware of the whereabouts of Since the current insurgency started in honor and respect, while those who struggled alongside him Boko Haram continues to carry out deadly Kukasheka said that the army was in a Abubakar Shekau, hence the reward of the 2009, it has killed tens of thousands and started fighting each other before he has even been buried. It’s suicide bombings in Borno state and other manhunt for Shekau, adding that N3 mil- sum of N3 million for any credible informa- displaced 2.3 million from their homes an undignified fight which could have been avoided with proper parts of northern Nigeria as part of its violent lion was offered as reward for any credible tion on his whereabouts”, he said. and was ranked as the world’s deadliest succession planning. campaign to establish a state in the West information that would lead to his arrest. Boko Haram, world’s deadli- terror group by the Global Terrorism How will Tsvangirai be remembered? He will live long in the African nation. “The attention of the Nigerian Army has est terrorist oufit Index in 2015. memory of Zimbabweans as a tenacious fighter for democracy The terrorists have increasingly used been drawn to a news story on some news The Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA/ (Source: agencies) and freedom. He will always be a hero to many people. His name went far beyond Zimbabwe and is one of the most recognizable names from the southern African region. He gave people hope. He inspired a generation, and, no doubt, Sheikh Tamim: Qatar blockade ‘futile’ his legacy will inspire future generations. He was not without 1 Earlier on Friday, the United Nations Secretary-Gen- to ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine, Sunni expected to address delegates during the annual-three day fault, but then who among humans is? I worked with him and eral Antonio Guterres warned of a “mess” in the Middle East. and Shia Muslims and the Persian Gulf crisis. security conference. remember a humble, unassuming character who wanted the “The Middle East ... [has] a number of different fault Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian An open discussion on the current political tensions in the best for his fellow Zimbabweans and for humanity. It was a great lines that are crossing each other and interconnected,” Gu- Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and the Saudi regime’s Min- Persian Gulf region is also scheduled to be held on Sunday. honor and privilege to work with him. terres said during his address to the conference, pointing ister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir are all (Source: al Jazeera) (Source: Aljazeera) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS FEBRUARY 18, 2018 Back on top, Federer becomes oldest ATP Allegri denies Champions League ´obsession´ ahead of world number one Turin derby Roger Federer added yet another record to his vast collection when he guaranteed be- Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri insists he is not obsessed coming the oldest ATP world number one with winning the Champions League and does not want his side by beating Dutchman Robin Haase 4-6 6-1 to lose focus on Serie A ahead of Sunday’s derby with Torino. 6-1 to reach the semi-finals in Rotterdam Juve surrendered a two-goal lead against Tottenham in the on Friday. first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday to draw 2-2, leaving them Fresh from winning his 20th grand slam facing a difficult task to progress to the quarter-finals ahead of the title in Melbourne this month, Federer took a return tie at Wembley. The result was greeted with frustration wildcard into the ABN AMRO World Tennis by fans at the Allianz Stadium, who have seen their side lose the event with his eyes fixed on a return to number final twice in the last three years, most recently to Real Madrid one for the first time since November 2012. last May. Allegri, however, says success in Serie A and the Cop- Needing to reach the last four to overtake pa Italia remains just as important to him and feels a failure to great rival Rafael Nadal, Federer showed defeat Spurs should not be considered a disaster. some early nerves in his quarter-final clash “The Champions League mustn’t be experienced like an ob- in the port city’s Ahoy Arena, dropping serve session because, when you have an obsession, you never win!” in the ninth game on his way to conceding he told a news conference. the first set. “Everyone around Juventus ought to be very proud, because But the 36-year-old Swiss, as he usually we have become stable among Europe’s top 10 clubs. does, moved through the gears to punish a “The important thing now is to focus on Serie A and the Coppa physically struggling Haase. Italia semi-final, because there’s a long way to go before March A demoralized Haase double-faulted on 6 and Wembley. “We have the same chance of progressing as match point and after an initially restrained we did before the first leg. We got a lot wrong in that game. Our celebration Federer sat on his chair and looked pass completion rate was around 55 per cent and it’s usually at close to tears as his feat sank in -- as did 70 per cent. “Having said that, Tottenham have been among the some of the Swiss fans leading the rapturous most prolific sides in the Premier League for years, with a strong applause. defence and the division’s top scorer. They are not an easy team “Reaching number one is one of, if not the to face.” Juve will welcome back Paulo Dybala for the derby on ultimate achievement in our sport,” Federer Sunday, although Allegri says the Argentina international has said on court after being handed a huge No.1 not recovered enough from a hamstring injury to start the match. shaped plaque by Dutch former Wimbledon Mario Mandzukic will also miss out through illness, while champion Richard Krajicek, the tournament One of the greatest ever late-career runs more than five-year gap between his previ- you to all my fans who have been there for Federico Bernardeschi faces a late fitness test and Gianluigi director. by any sportsman or woman means he sur- ous and most recent stints as world number me since the beginning.” Buffon will be rested. “Sometimes at the beginning you just passes Andre Agassi who was the previous one being the longest since ATP rankings The journey continues on Saturday when “Mandzukic has a fever, so I sent him home,” said Allegri. kind of get there because you played so well, oldest man to top the ATP rankings. began in 1973. Federer faces Italian Andreas Seppi in the “Bernardeschi had a muscular problem in training yesterday. but later you have to fight for it and have to American Agassi was 33 when he scaled Incredibly Federer first reached number semi-final with a 97th career title in sight. He’s available to us but he’ll need to be assessed. wrestle it back from someone who deserves the summit in 2003. one in 2004, as a 22-year-old, and having now Seppi beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in (Source: Mirror) to be there. When you are older you maybe He was one of the first to congratulate returned there 14 years later playing some of three sets. have to put double the work in. This maybe Federer. the best tennis of his career, he looks capable The other semi-final will feature Bulgaria’s means the most to me in my career.” “Roger Federer continues to raise the bar of another lengthy stretch on the throne. Grigor Dimitrov and Belgian David Goffin. Federer, whose glittering career has re-ig- in our sport. Congratulations on yet another He already holds the record of 302 weeks Dimitrov beat Andrey Rublev while Goffin Mercedes wary of threat nited since taking six months off in 2016, has remarkable achievement!!” Agassi said on ranked number one. was given a walkover by injured Czech To- won three of the last five grand slams having Twitter. On his Instagram account later, Federer mas Berdych. from McLaren-Renault gone five years without one. Federer also set another record with the said: “A night to remember forever. Thank (Source : Reuters)

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that the team is taking McLar- en-Renault very seriously heading into the 2018 season. McLaren Russia shielded players from doping Coaching Real Madrid is ‘exhausting’: will run with Renault engines this year, after terminating a disas- trous three-year campaign with Honda towards the end of 2017. bans Zidane Mercedes, who have won every drivers’ and constructors’ title since 2014, is wary of the threat that McLaren now pose. Mercedes faced a title battle in 2017 when Ferrari managed to produce a car capable of making the Silver Arrows sweat. Wolff says that at the top, you need to be aware of all the potential threats: “This is the pinnacle of motor racing you need to respect every team and the top drivers,” he told Autosport. “We are taking Ferrari, we are taking Red Bull, we are taking McLaren, we are taking Renault seriously. These guys can fight for a championship and some others might be surprising us. “I want to remain humble and expect competition from all of these teams and if we are able to align the dots like we have done in the last year then we will be winning races and then we will be fighting for championships and if we don’t then we haven’t been good enough.” (Source: F1 Today)

Brazil coach Tite reveals Russian football players were protected footballers when he was the president of the Zinedine Zidane has admitted that coaching league games in 14 days, including a re- from being caught doping under direct gov- Russian Football Union,” Rodchenkov said. Real Madrid is draining as he prepares his scheduled trip to near neighbours Leganes likely World Cup starting ernment orders that laboratory director “He told me directly to ‘avoid any scandal by side for their return to La Liga action on next Wednesday. Grigory Rodchenkov said he followed to hiding positive results’ and ‘doping would the back of the Champions League victory The gap to league leaders Barcelona - lineup ensure cheating was covered up. be handled internally,’ meaning that those over Paris Saint-Germain. 17 points with a game in hand before this Outlining his involvement in football doping irresponsibly or without protocols “It is exhausting, for sure, even more so weekend - is surely too great, but they are Brazil coach Tite said that he has already chosen his preferred for the first time to The Associated Press, could be disciplined or reported.” at Real Madrid,” the Frenchman, who had looking to climb back into the top three starting lineup for this year’s World Cup in Russia. Rodchenkov claimed an instruction to “avoid While not stating that he helped foot- been under considerable pressure prior to in La Liga. But eight of the 23 places in his squad for the June 14 to July any scandal” came from Vitaly Mutko, the ballers to obtain drugs -- like in other sports the rousing 3-1 win over PSG in the first Zidane, who has lost Toni Kroos to a 15 tournament remain open, the 56-year-old said in an inter- former Russian sports minister who now -- Rodchenkov admits to being complicit leg of their last-16 tie, told reporters at knee injury that could make him a doubt for view with Brazilian news service Uol on Friday, reports Xinhua serves as a deputy prime minister despite in the cover-up. the club’s Valdebebas training complex the PSG return, is set to rotate his squad in news agency. Barring injury, the starting eleven will comprise being implicated in a far-reaching doping “When they had [adverse analytical Saturday. these matches and give some fringe players a front three of Gabriel Jesus, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho; controversy. “Russian footballers were findings],” Rodchenkov said, “those re- “Of course there could come a time when an opportunity. a midfield of Renato Augusto, Paulinho and Casemiro; and a immune from doping-control actions or sults were supposed to stay out of [WADA’s there needs to be a change, for the coach, “It is the best way to prepare for the backline of Marcelo, Marquinhos, Miranda and Daniel Alves, sanctions,” Rodchenkov said in response administration and management system].” the club, the players, everyone, but it is second leg against PSG, by being good [and] with Alisson in goal. Others guaranteed to be on the plane to to questions through his lawyer from his The focus is sharpening on doping not the moment.” playing well in La Liga,” the Frenchman Russia are Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho, Chelsea hiding place in the United States. practices in Russian football with the Zidane has won eight trophies in a hugely added, whose side lost 1-0 at home when playmaker Willian, Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva Rodchenkov fled Russia two years ago World Cup kicking off in Moscow in four successful two years at the helm, including they last faced Betis, in September. and Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino. to confess to his role in a widespread dop- months. Amid mounting evidence of his back-to-back Champions Leagues. “There are five matches, and each “The list is partly confirmed and partly still open,” Tite said. ing cover-up in his homeland -- notably role in the doping deception that turned His team’s indifferent domestic form time we’ll be playing after having just “It’s confirmed for players who are playing consistently well at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and his country into Olympic outcasts, Mut- - they are fourth in La Liga ahead of two training sessions. That has not hap- for both their clubs and the national team.” by track and field athletes. ko recently stepped down as head of both Sunday’s game at Real Betis - means pened to us before and it means we will Among those vying for the final eight places, are Manches- In correspondence with the AP, Rod- Russia’s football federation and the World his future at the Santiago Bernabeu have even greater need for everyone to ter City goalkeeper Ederson, Bayern Munich full-back Rafinha, chenkov provided his first account of how he Cup organizing committee. While Mutko probably depends on the outcome of the be available. Juventus pair Alex Sandro and Douglas Costa, Atletico Madrid helped footballers escape doping sanctions has been banned for life from the Olympics, PSG tie, with the second leg in France “It would have been good to have another left-back Filipe Luis and Gremio midfielder Arthur. at the behest of the government. he has not faced any footballing sanctions. on March 6. day before [Sunday’s] match, but we don’t.” Brazil are among the frontrunners to win football’s main event “Mutko ordered protection for Russian (Source: ESPN) Before that, Madrid face a run of five (Source: Daily Star) after dominating the South American zone qualifying tournament. The five-time World Cup champions have been drawn in the same group as Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia. (Source: Goal) Chen leaps from disaster to Olympic history American jumping ace Nathan Chen lived up to his rep- best of him. utation on Saturday, redeeming himself with quadruple “As much as I tried to deny it I guess I really did feel jumps after a pair of disastrous skates in Pyeongchang the pressure a lot, from especially before the short pro- and making Olympic history into the bargain with a bril- gram, thinking about medals and all that, things that Thiago back for Bayern liant free skate. were completely out of my control,” he said. Even though he ended out of the medals, Chen’s clean “That just tightened me up and made me really cau- Thiago Alcantara has been named in the Bayern Munich starting landing of an unprecedented six quads - the first time tious out on the ice, and that’s not the right way to skate.” line-up for the first time since November for Saturday’s clash anybody has done so in the Olympics - helped him vault Chen said earlier this week that after his poor skate in with Wolfsburg. from 17th to fifth place on the weight of the free skate. the team competition he had gone straight to the rink for The Spain international suffered a thigh muscle injury in the Mao Asada of Japan, who won silver in Vancouver 20 minutes of practice that had helped settle his head. 2-1 Champions League win at Anderlecht on November 22 and 2010, had a similar experience in Sochi in 2014, follow- But Friday was different. has been sidelined ever since. ing a terrible short skate with a stellar free program that “There was no ice time, or I totally would have (prac- The 26-year-old starts the Bundesliga clash at Volkswagen lifted her from far down the ranks up to sixth place and ticed),” he said. “I went home and lay in bed and tried Arena, though, as head coach Jupp Heynckes rests a number left her in tears. to relax a bit.” of other senior stars ahead of next week’s clash with Besiktas. Chen said that his fall and the other mistakes of Friday’s In the end, he was philosophical. Mats Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, Jerome Boateng, Thomas short program proved strangely freeing. “I was glad I was able to show myself and everyone Muller, David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich have all been named “Honestly, I wasn’t nervous at all,” the 18-year-old told else that I can bounce back from a bad performance. on the bench, with Bayern seemingly wary of any further injuries reporters after his performance, saying that doing so badly I‘m human, I make mistakes, and unfortunately I had a ahead of the first leg of their Champions League last-16 showdown. led to his decision to add another quad to his program. After repeatedly saying that the Olympics were just really bad time,” he said. Kingsley Coman, James Rodriguez and Arturo Vidal did not “I sort of planned it yesterday after I had such a bad another competition for him prior to his short skate on “I‘m really happy with what I did here and tomorrow travel with the squad, as all three are suspended. short. I might as well just go for everything right now, I have Friday, Chen - taking part in his first Olympics - ruefully is another day.” (Source: Soccernet) literally nothing to lose so I might as well just go for it.” admitted that the expectations and the occasion got the (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 18, 2018 SPORTS 15

Wrestler Karimi banned for Iran beat Lebanon for 2nd win at West Asian Women’s six months, Iran protests Handball Championship SPORTS Iranian wrestler Alireza Karimi has been Press TV — Iranian handball players have pulled off their second deskhanded a six months ban for deliberately victory at the preliminary round of the 2018 Asian Women’s Club losing a bout to avoid facing an opponent from Zionist regime. Handball Championship in Jordan. United World Wrestling (UWW) has confirmed the Shahid Chamran Larestsan team, which are representing the sanction and also handed a two year penalty to his coach Islamic Republic at the continental sports event, faced Lebanon at Hamidreza Jamshidi. Princess Sumaya Hall of al-Hussein Youth City in the Jordanian An investigation was launched in December after it was capital city of Amman on Friday evening, and posted a 29-19 win. alleged that Karimi had lost the quarter final of his under-86 Earlier, the Iranian handball players had hammered Iraq kilograms freestyle contest at the 2017 Under-23 World Cham- 43-8 in their opening match on Thursday. pionships in Bydgoszcz on purpose. The 2018 West Asian Women’s Handball Championship started He lost to his Russian rival Alikhan Zhabrayilov, who went on on February 15, and will run through February 21. to win the gold medal in the Polish city, 14-3 on November 23. The six-day and league-format competition has brought to- It has been ruled that Jamshidi instructed his wrestler, a gether best female players from Iraq, the Islamic Republic of two-time Asian champion and a Senior World Championship Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Qatar. bronze medalist, to lose. “The chamber found that Karimi, on instruction of his coach Jamshidi, willfully lost his quarter finals match against Alikhan Zhabrayilov. Both wrestler and coach were found to have acted Tractor Sazi’s Farzad Hatami in direct violation of the International Wrestling Rules and the UWW Disciplinary Regulations,” a UWW statement said. to miss Al Gharafa match Iran and Israel do not have diplomatic relations with the countries seen as bitter enemies. TASNIM — Tractor Sazi striker Farzad Hatami will miss the The Islamic Republic of Iran Wrestling Federation said upcoming match against Al Gharafa of Qatar due to injury. it would protest a decision to ban one of its athletes and Tractor Sazi football team will play in Doha’s Thani bin Jassim the national coach, imposed by United World Wrestling Stadium against Al Gharafa on Monday. (UWW) on Friday. The striker sustained an injury in the match against Saudi “The federation will protest the verdict,” Iran Wrestling Arabia’s Al Ahli in Matchday One of the AFC Champions League. Federation president Rasoul Khadem said on state television. Tractor Sazi of Iran sit at the bottom of the Group A without “During his six-month ban, Karimi can take part in domestic any point. competitions and in the final stage of the national team selection. “His ban will be over before the 2018 Asian Games and the World Championship,” Khadem added. Hanyu defends Olympic title, Rahimi named Iran’s Chef de Mission for Ashkan Dejagah sidelined up to eight Uno takes silver 2018 Youth Olympic Games weeks: Report GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu took gold in the men’s singles competition on Saturday despite several mistakes in an otherwise mesmerizing programme, becoming the first man in 66 years to defend his Olympic title and giving Japan its first Pyeongchang gold. Skating in front of a crowd of euphoric supporters at the Gangneung Ice Arena, the 23-year-old took steps out of his quad toeloop and triple Lutz. But those errors did not stop him from delivering a gold-worthy performance despite a gap of weeks in his training after injuring his ankle last November. Hanyu, a two-time world champion, finished nearly 11 points overall ahead of compatriot Shoma Uno. It was the first time Japanese athletes took two top podium places at a Winter Olym- pics since 1972. “Getting to this place was really tough,” Hanyu told reporters. “Because I had time off from skating, I was able to do a lot of SPORTS Asghar Rahimi has are also of great importance, are due SPORTS Iranian internation- gone surgery and could be sidelined for planning and thinking about strategy.” deskbeen named as Iran’s to be celebrated in the tradition of the deskal midfielder Ashkan two months. Out of competition since October and off the ice for weeks Chef de Mission for the 2018 Summer Summer Olympic Games feom Oct. 6 Dejagah will be sidelined for six to eight Dejagah will likely miss the 2018 World Cup. after a training fall that injured his ankle in November, Hanyu Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, to 18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. weeks due to a foot injury, according to The ex-Fulham star joined Nottingham on said his leg was still not in perfect condition and that a making Argentina. It will be the first Summer Youth his agent Reza Fazeli. Jan. 31 and played against his former club on a full recovery was his first goal. The 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Olympic Games to be held outside Asia Dejagah suffered the injury during the Feb. 3 at the Craven Cottage as a substitute. “When I was hurt I had a lot of days when I thought I might Games is the third edition of the Summer and the first Youth Games for either Nottingham Forest’s training last week, Last week, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz not be able to skate again, so now having been able to skate and Youth Olympics, a major international summer or winter to be held outside Fazeli said. announced via his Facebook account that getting these good results is really the best,” Hanyu later told a sports in which culture and education Eurasia. The 31-year-old midfielder has under- Team Melli’s captain has undergone surgery. news conference. Japan exploded with joy at his win, the first time a male figure skater defended his Olympic title since American Dick Button Prince George hopes to inspire on One Year to Go until Para Nordic Worlds in 1952. Within 90 minutes of Hanyu’s victory the hashtag “Ha- nyu-kun” - an affectionate diminutive - had been tweeted 1.1 One year from now Prince George will host a World Cham- “We’re going to do that by having a decorated Canadian million times and was the top trend globally. pionships for the first time. It will also be the first time the Paralympian telling her story and by giving local residents Skating last, Uno fell on his opening quad loop but fought his World Para Nordic Championships take place in Canada. – whether they currently ski or not – the chance to get ac- way back to silver, earning a combined total of 306.90 points. To mark “one-year out,” the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club quainted with one of the Para Nordic events: sit-skiing. All Javier Fernandez, a six-time European champion competing is joining with Engage Sport North, Tourism Prince George, of the events are free and we encourage everyone to come in his last Olympics, made a wobbly landing on his quad Salchow and the City of Prince George on Saturday (17 February) out to Otway and give these sports a try.” early in his programme but regrouped to earn 197.66 points for to present free events that will inspire all ages and foster As part of the program, representatives of Engage Sport his free skate and 305.24 overall. participation. North will also be teaching the basics of cross-country skiing “I know I didn’t do the perfect programme, but I was satisfied Paralympian Michelle Stilwell will speak in the Otway instruction at an introductory level. Engage Sport North with what I did,” Fernandez told reporters. Nordic Centre lodge, recounting her experiences that led is a multi-sport organization dedicated to advancing sport “It got me an Olympic medal. That’s all I’ve got to say.” to becoming a quadriplegic at 17 before later winning six participation in the region. gold medals in three Paralympic Games. The Prince George World Para Nordic Skiing Champi- Also a member of the Legislative Assembly of British onships will run from February 16-24, 2019. Approximately Columbia, Stilwell will then try sit-skiing for the first time as 140 athletes from 20 countries are expected to compete. Yarnold takes skeleton gold to sit-skiing is one of the Para Nordic events. British Columbia Prince George residents to the amazing people who will be This is going to be the sixth edition of the World Cham- Para Nordic coach Tony Chin will also be demonstrating coming here in 2019 for the first World Championships in pionships. The latest one took place in Finsterau, Germany, make Winter Olympics history sit-skiing for those who want to try it. our city’s history,” said Kevin Pettersen, chair of the Local in February 2017. “The idea of this one-year out event is to start exposing Organizing Committee. (Source: Paralympic.org) Lizzy Yarnold created history by becoming the first Briton to successfully defend a Winter Olympics title – and then revealed how close she had come to pulling out of the Games because a Arjen Robben considering MLS, China South Korea official floats idea of virus that had laid her low for a week. or Qatar move co-hosting Asian Games with North Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has more at the highest level -- that is my goal.” PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reu- icy of isolating North Korea and exerting told Sportbuzzer that he has no plans to “I’ve achieved everything in my career ters) - A South Korean province is con- maximum pressure on the reclusive state to retire and could follow in the footsteps of that I set out to -- with the Champions sidering a proposal to co-host the 2021 persuade it to drop its nuclear and missile Bastian Schweinsteiger and move to Major League as the crowning glory.” Asian Winter Games with North Korea weapons program. League Soccer, saying he is also considering Robben added that he “would be happy in a bid to strengthen inter-Korean ties, “Talks between South and North Korea China and Qatar. if Jupp Heynckes continued,” although he South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency said are making significant progress ... Mean- Robben, 34, has won six Bundesliga titles stressed his future is not tied to the identity on Saturday, quoting provincial governor while, a shared understanding of holding and four DFB Pokals during his time at the of the Bundesliga champions next coach. Choi Moon-soon. talks between the United States and North club. He also scored Bayern’s late winner “Of course, this decision is not com- Gangwon province, host for the current Korea is growing,” Moon told reporters in in the all-German Champions League final pletely independent of it,” he said. “The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, is Pyeongchang. against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in coach is the one you work with on a daily considering the idea also as a way of making “(I) hope the inter-Korean talks could 2013, but his current one-year deal expires basis. But I enjoy such open and honest further use of Olympics venues, Choi was lead to talks between the U.S. and North this summer. communication with all those responsible quoted as saying. Korea and also denuclearisation talks.” “That’s exactly the current topic of here that I am not worried at all. The club North Korea is participating in the Py- Last week, Moon met North Korean conversation at my kitchen table at the will have a plan and then the club and I eongchang Games at the invitation of the leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, moment, when talking to friends and fam- have to decide how we proceed.” South, which is using them to help ease who delivered an invitation for Moon to The 29-year-old Sochi 2014 champion trailed leader Janine ily,” Robben said when asked whether he ayern have won 20 of 21 games since tensions between the two countries, still attend a summit in North Korea “at an Flock of Austria entering the fourth and final run, where she could imagine seeing out his career in the Heynckes returned for a fourth term at the technically at war. early date”. overhauled the deficit to win by 0.45 seconds. British team-mate United States, China or Doha. club in October -- including a DFB Pokal The host city for the 2021 event has not Moon said it was premature to talk about Laura Deas claimed bronze by 0.02secs as Britain won two medals “Now is the time that I have to make penalty shootout success in Leipzig, and been decided yet. when a summit could take place. “There in the same event for the first time in Winter Olympics history. a decision. A few years ago, it was usu- Robben hailed his contribution during A spokesman for South Korea’s sports is a high expectation of an inter-Korean “After the first run yesterday I was almost at the point of ally relatively straightforward but I am afourth spell in charge. ministry said it “hopes to continue sports summit, but people seem to be getting a pulling out,” said Yarnold. “My chest infection was stopping approaching the end [of my career] now “It’s super to have Jupp Heynckes back. exchanges with North Korea after the Winter bit ahead of themselves,” he added. me from breathing. I just tried to get the second run down and and I have a lot to think about. It’s not easy He, Peter Hermann [assistant] and Her- Games” but it had not yet discussed any About the possibility of co-hosting the then fight another day today. If it wasn’t for my physio Louise but it’s also exciting. A lot is still open but mann Gerland [assistant coach] all know bid for the 2021 Games. 2021 Asian Winter Games, the Gangwon Turner telling me to go down again, I’m not sure I would be here. I have already ruled out certain things in the club inside out and what every player South Korean President Moon Jae-in, governor said he would start mapping out “I was dizzy, I couldn’t breathe. I have no idea what happened. my head -- but they are staying private. needs. There was a turnaround from the very who held talks with top North Korean of- details once the Olympic Games end and I’ve been ill for a week. It’s been a great week. We have the doctors, With his Bayern contract up for renewal, first day and of course that was down to the ficials at Pyeongchang at the start of the that the proposal would also utilize North I have my physio Louise. Everyone is supporting me in helping Robben is convinced he has plenty to offer coach. I would be happy if Jupp Heynckes Games, said on Saturday there was also a Korea’s Masikryong ski resort. people get here. Athletes are people too. Now I’m going to sleep and will not be retiring in the summer. continued -- but it’s his decision alone and growing understanding of the need for talks Prior to the Winter Olympics, the two for weeks. The emotions are gratitude to the whole team to get “I’m still feeling very fit at the moment whatever happens we have to respect it.” between the United States and North Korea. Koreas held a joint training program at here, and relief, and exhaustion. And lots of crying.” and believe I can still play for one or two years (Source: Soccernet) Washington has been pursuing a pol- the Masikryong resort. (Source: BBC) Prayer Times Noon:12:18 Evening: 19:07 Dawn: 5:23 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:47 (tomorrow) FEBRUARY 18, 2018 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 Unacknowledged Fajr films triumphant Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 at Qoqnus Screen Awards Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 ARTTEHRAN – Those films www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. desk Tel: 88911433 that failed to garner an Webmaster: [email protected] award at the 36th Fajr Film Festival last Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 week were honored on Friday night dur- ing the 7th edition of the Qoqnus Screen No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Awards, which is organized by the Art Zip Code: 1599814713 Bureau to honor revolutionary films. “Damascus Time”, a film directed by about the soldiers who fought against Daesh, received a Qoqnus. Earlier last week at the Fajr Film Fes- tival, Hatamikia shared the film’s award for best director with Bahram Tavakkoli, the director of “The Lost Strait”. However, he lashed out at the organ- izers of the festival and Iranian TV and accused them of undermining his movie, which had been financed by the Owj Arts and Media Organization, a Tehran-based Schiller to reprise institution producing revolutionary works in art and cinema. concerts in Tehran He also called himself “a dependent filmmaker” and “a man of the system” ARTTEHRAN – The German electronic music band desk and said that he is proud of making a film Schiller led by its composer Christopher von about those who fought against Daesh. Deylen will give concerts in Tehran for the second time in March. Hatamikia could not attend the Qoqnus Screen Awards, which were presented at the Andisheh Hall of the Art Bureau. Therefore, “Damascus Time” producer Mohammad Khazaei received the award on his behalf. “Hatamikia’s criticism was distorted “Damascus Time” producer Mohammad Khazaei accepts an award on behalf of director Ebrahim Hatamikia during the 7th Qoqnus on social media where he was accused of Screen Awards at Andisheh Hall in Tehran on February 16, 2018. (Fars/Soheil Sahranavard) seeking more awards, while that was not true,” Khazaei said at the awards ceremony. sani also received a Qoqnus. “I also repeat best actor for his roles in “Damascus Time” Mohammadian also won a Qoqnus. “Long ago, a media frenzy had been that we are all dependent,” he said after and “Lottery”, director Mohammad-Hos- IRGC commander General Ali-Akbar launched against the revolutionary guys accepting the award and added, “We are sein Mahdavian’s sex trafficking drama. Purjamshidian also spoke at the awards Schiller performs a concert at the Grand Hall of the Interior and they labeled us ‘dependent filmmak- proud of not having to ask foreign em- The Qoqnus for best documentary went ceremony and proposed that a campaign Ministry in Tehran on December 12, 2017. (YJC/Mitra Samavaki) ers’, but Hatamikia worked [at Fajr] like bassies for money to make our films.” to “Women with Gunpowder Earrings” by titled “We Art the Men of the System” be shock troops, giving the future genera- He also praised Hatamikia for his re- Reza Farahmand. The film is about Nur, a launched in support of Hatamikia. Ritmeno, an Iranian music news agency that is the organizer tion courage not to feel humiliated for marks at the Fajr festival and said, “We female journalist who covers stories about “We are proud to be working for the of the performances, has arranged the second concert for three having to make films on the revolution,” heard Hatamikia’s remarks and that was Syrian and Iraqi women and children in system to earn a living. We are proud of nights beginning on March 4. he added. the beginning of a struggle.” the war against the Daesh terrorists. not having to earn a wage from America Earlier in December 2017, the band gave performances at the Owj director Ehsan Mohammad-Has- Hadi Hejazifar received the Qoqnus for “The Elephant King” directed by Hadi and Israel,” he noted. Grand Hall of the Interior Ministry in Tehran. The Performances were warmly received by Iranian concertgoers. Simin Daneshvar’s “Savushun” published in Italy CULTURE TEHRAN — Eminent Iranian author She is a graduate in Oriental languages and cultures In “Savushun”, Daneshvar chronicles the life of a Per- Fajr unveils poster for deskSimin Daneshvar’s social-historical novel from the University Of Ca’ Foscari in Venice, and has re- sian family in during the Allied occupation of Iran Cinema Salvation “Savushun”, also known as “Suvashun”, has recently been ceived a Ph.D. in Near Eastern studies from the New York during World War II. The story is narrated through the published in Italian. University. eyes of Zari, a young wife and mother, who copes with her ARTTEHRAN – The 36th Fajr International Film The Milan-based company, Francesco Brioschi Editore, Daneshvar died in 2012 at the age of 90. She is mostly idealistic and uncompromising husband while struggling deskFestival unveiled a poster for Cinema Salva- is the publisher of the book, which has been translated into known as the author of “Savushun” which has been trans- with her desire for traditional family life and her need for tion, the official competition section of the festival, on Saturday. Italian by Anna Vanzan. lated into over 17 languages around the world. individual identity. A selection of 15 feature films and 15 short movies will compete Berlin festival movie tells true story Berlinale film shows refugees’ in the section, the organizers announced. of Cold War rebels with a cause lives at historic airport The festival, which will be ESSEN, Germany/BERLIN (Reuters) - As running from April 19 to 27 in BERLIN (Reuters) — In 2015, with Soviet tanks crushed an uprising in Hungary Tehran, has received submis- Germany facing turmoil after flinging its in 1956, a group of children in East Germany sions from filmmakers from doors open to a million refugees, Berlin began their own protest, taking on a communist Turkey, Italy, China, Bulgaria, repurposed a defunct airport to house regime that would keep their country divided Afghanistan, England, Egypt, them, creating an ad hoc village that is for three more decades. France, Iraq, Palestine and sev- the setting for a film to premier at the The true story is told in “The Silent eral other countries. Berlinale film festival. Revolution” (“Das schweigende Registration still continues Built by forced labor on the orders Klassenzimmer”), a movie that premieres until March 10 and the final list of Adolf Hitler’s architect Albert Speer, at the Berlin International Film Festival that of the competing movies will be Tempelhof Airport is a mirror of its city’s opened this week in the city that is now the announced afterwards. history, serving as West Berlin’s lifeline capital of a unified, peaceful Germany. Dietrich Garstka, who fled former Com- Ibrahim Al Hussein (L) from Syria and A jury of five foreign and two during the 1948 Soviet blockade. With tightly controlled news media back munist East as a schoolboy and inspired and Qutaiba Nafea from Iraq pose for the A poster for the Cinema Salvation Iranian members will be judging The airport was closed in 2008 and its home, two schoolboys from the East see the film “Das schweigende Klassenzimmer” photographer ahead of an interview with of the 36th Fajr International Film the films. The members of the runways were turned into a garden the footage of the 1956 Hungarian uprising - a which is due to premiere at the Berlinale Reuters about Karim Ainouz’s Berlinale Festival. jury will be announced later. size of New York’s Central Park for a now key moment of Cold War history - while on film festival, gesticulates during an in- united city. International Film Festival entry movie a trip to the cinema in West Berlin. terview with Reuters in Essen, Germany, Its hangars, the setting for the “Central Airport THF” at historic Tempel- They tell their classmates and after listening February 9, 2018. (Reuters/Leon Kuegeler) documentary “Central Airport THF”, in hof Airport in Berlin, Germany February Tehran gallery sets up to western news on the radio together at a “They completely underestimated us, 2015 became an emergency shelter for 13, 2018. (Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch) house in the countryside, they agree to hold a thinking we were little puppets who believed more than two thousand of the million- Qutaiba Nafea, another of Ainouz’s Abbas Kiarostami bust minute’s silence for those killed in the failed what the ‘great socialists’ said,” he told odd people who came to Germany, fleeing subjects, is a 38-year-old Iraqi refugee revolution. Reuters. war and persecution in the Middle East who was studying to be a doctor in his ARTTEHRAN — The Tehran-based Boom The entire class is ultimately expelled and While Garstka’s rebellion was against a and Africa. home country but found himself working deskGallery, which showcased photo collections most flee to the West in a bid for freedom and system that most Germans now look on as The film, by Brazilian director Karim as a translator at the shelter health center. by Abbas Kiarostami during to put their academic careers back on track. a grimly repressive regime, he says young Ainouz, documents the life of the airport’s “It was like a life blog for me, I was several exhibitions, has set up Dietrich Garstka, who wrote the book on people today remain rebellious and always will. new residents, drawing a parallel the lives filming my daily life here,” said Al Hussein. a bronze bust of the world- which the movie is based, started school in “I think young people are often of Berliners in the vast adjacent park, Al Hussein’s monologues and his renowned Iranian art icon in 1945 - the year Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime underestimated by their parents nowadays. contrasting refugees with hipsters on kite depictions of daily life at the shelter reflects its courtyard. collapsed - so the communist East German They’re not indifferent ... you can be sure skates, joggers and picnicking families. the uncertainty, the homesickness and the The life-sized statue has system was all he knew. they’ll get involved whenever there’s a “There was a contrast there that I hope for a new future which overshadow been made by Alireza Asanlu, He risked a lot by refusing to answer his campaign or something to do,” Garstka said, thought was really important to document,” refugees’ lives while waiting for their asylum the gallery announced on history teacher’s questions during the minute’s adding that ecological issues were often the said Ainouz, who said he wanted to show the applications. Saturday. silence, but, Garstka said: “Doing that protest focus of protests in today’s Germany. lives of refugees through a more personal Perhaps inspired by his experience, The gallery displayed was important to me, to show these scumbags “If I wanted to be ironic, I could say we lens than was then common. the young protagonist, who now works Kiarostami’s photo series that we think differently to them.” had the luck of growing up in a dictatorship Ibrahim Al Hussein, a Syrian from at a cinema himself and is an aspiring “Snow White”, “Roads”, He and his classmates realized they would and we could show that (rebelliousness).” Aleppo, had just turned 18 when he arrived film editor. “Moonlight”, “Doors without have no chance of making a life for themselves “The Silent Revolution”, directed by Lars at the airport and had to live in the hastily “People from all around the world will Keys” and “Doors and if branded enemies of the state, so they decided Kraume, premieres in Berlin on Tuesday. The built shelter for more than a year where come and watch the film and get an idea Memories” at several exhibits. it was better to take the risk of fleeing. festival runs until Feb. 25. Ainouz met him. about our life at the airport,” he said. Kiarostami was an advisor to Boom. He passed away in July 2016 at the age of 76. Nigerian cinema fans celebrate “Black Panther” release LAGOS (Reuters) —Film fans, actors and comic enthusiasts the references they used in relationship to Africa. They are in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos have been flocking pulling from the best fashion and art,” he said. British actor Robert to screenings of Marvel superhero movie “Black Panther” The fictional African country is depicted as a verdant Pattinson says he does which opened in Africa’s most populous country this week. land with stunning waterfalls where spacecraft designed The Walt Disney Co movie, which features a predominantly like tribal masks soar over a modern metropolis. not believe in true love black cast, is set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda. The portrayal of Wakanda as a futuristic, wealth-laden It tells the story of the new king, T‘Challa/Black Panther nation was welcomed by local actress Ijeoma Grace Agu, BERLIN (Reuters) — British actor Robert Pattinson does not (Chadwick Boseman), who is challenged by rival factions. who used body paint and a two-piece outfit as a homage believe in true love, he said at the Berlin Film Festival on Friday, Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is also a cultural pow- to the film’s fashion aesthetic and said she was excited to in contrast to the lovestruck pioneer he portrays in the western erhouse that boasts the continent’s biggest film industry, watch the film. comedy period film “Damsel”. known as Nollywood. Lagos is the country’s filmmaking hub. “For once we are not just dressed in slave clothes or Directed by David and Nathan Zellner, “Damsel” stars Pat- At a screening of Black Panther on Friday in Lekki, an doing slavery or brutality. For once we are dressed in good tinson as the wealthy Samuel Alabaster who traverses the Wild upmarket district of Lagos, Nollywood stars mingled with TV clothes,” said Agu. West in search of his love Penelope, played by Australian actress personalities and locals. The showing was one of a number Directed by black director Ryan Coogler and featuring Mia Wasikowska. of screenings in the city this week. actors including Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Lu- “Do I believe in true, pure love? No. No, I think it‘s, yeah, I Most people were dressed in traditional Nigerian robes A general view of the entrance for the premiere of “Black pita Nyong‘o and Forest Whittaker, the film has received mean it’s obviously more complicated,” he said at a news con- and gowns, with some opting to wear specially made attire in Panther” in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 29, 2018. widespread critical acclaim after years of criticism about ference after the screening. keeping with the film’s futuristic take on African garments. (Reuters/Mario Anzuoni) the under-representation of black people in Hollywood. “Damsel” is one of 19 films competing for the festival’s Golden “Black Panther is a film that celebrates black excellence. ere-Ekun, a 33-year-old filmmaker. “Seeing us exude power and strength, seeing our culture, our Bear award. Bringing it to Nigeria is especially exciting,” said Bolaji Kek- “The people who made the film were very specific about high fashion sense portrays us in a different light,” said Agu.