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16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 38th year No.13063 Sunday MARCH 4, 2018 Esfand 13, 1396 Jumada Al thani 15, 1439 Iran’s defense Rouhani offers Alihosseini:I deserved Iranian photographers program has nothing to condolence to to win Laureus World honored at Bristol Salon do with France 2 Azeri president 2 Comeback of the Year 15 of Photography 16 Oil production preserving, boosting See page 2 projects worth $6b specified ECONOMY TEHRAN— Iranian million-$300 million deals. deskOil Ministry has speci- Referring to the plan for supporting fied 30 projects worth $6 billion for pre- domestic production, the official said man- No missile serving and boosting oil production in ufacturing of 10 groups of goods inside the the country, according to an oil official. country is being followed up and related Addressing the 2nd Iran International contracts will be singed. Exploration and Production Congress and Emphasizing the necessity of boosting Exhibition (Iran E&P 2018) in Tehran, quality of domestically-manufactured prod- talks unless Habibollah Bitaraf, the deputy oil minister ucts, Bitaraf stated that Iranian manufac- for engineering, research and technology, turers should promote the quality of their said these projects will be handed over goods because the foreign competitors offer West gives up to the qualified companies based on $50 the same product with some lower prices. Tehran confirms Zarif, Kerry met in Munich POLITICS TEHRAN — Tehran sure national interests”. nuclear arms deskhas confirmed that the The New Yorker on Friday first reported Iranian foreign minister and his former the private meeting. It said “Kerry quietly American counterpart met during the Mu- urged the Iranians not to abandon the nich Security Conference on February 18. [nuclear] deal or violate its terms, what- Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram ever the Trump Administration does.” Qassemi on Saturday said Mohammad Zarif and Kerry were leaders of the Javad Zarif and John Kerry’s meeting negotiating teams of Iran and the U.S. was held “within the framework to en- respectively.

Turkish warplanes hit pro-Syrian govt forces in Afrin, kill 36 Turkish warplanes have killed at least 36 Human Rights (SOHR) said. pro-Syrian government forces in their air- The pro-Syrian government forces strikes on Syria’s northwestern Kurdish re- entered Afrin last week to repel a Turkish Mohammadreza Abbasi gion of Afrin, a monitoring group affiliated to offensive in Afrin against the Kurdish Peo- Syria’s foreign-based opposition groups says. ple’s Protection Units (YPG) militant group. The Saturday attack was the third This is the first time that Syrian gov- assault by Turkish jets against pro-gov- ernment forces are deployed in the region ernment forces in Afrin over the past two since 2012 when the YPG held the area

Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ days, the so-called Syrian Observatory for under its control. 13

EDITORIAL Modern science is compatible with Islamic principles: professor ARTICLE By Mohammad Ghaderi EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW or biology, can they be put together with theolo- all marks of purposive direction. And physics has By Ebrahim Fallahi Tehran Times editor-in-chief Tehran Times journalist By Javad Heirannia gy, social sciences or humanities in one group? developed in the modern era that some have taken @ghaderi62 A: The relationship of science and religion has to support the view that the cosmos is without TEHRAN – Charles Taliaferro, a professor of historically and today been fluid. In the golden age meaning or purpose. The later is, in a sense, a philosophy at St. Olaf College in the U.S., be- of Islam from the 8th to the 13th century religion peculiar claim as physics in the modern era has lieves that modern science is in agreement with and science flourished together, and one can developed explicitly to only concern itself with Destroy your Islamic principles. argue that in the modern age religion has been the physical world in the absence of mind, values, IP gas pipeline: A In an interview with the Tehran Times recently, a positive source for the development of science, purpose. In other words, even Newton, a devout missiles then talk Professor Taliaferro says: “The only problem in especially in the applied science of medicine. In believer in God, only specified that material bodies fading opportunity about ours! terms of epistemology and methodology is if one the West, all the early modern scientists from were attracted to each other in terms of force. As for Pakistan adopted what some today call scientism, the view Kepler to Newton were religious people. There a person, I am sure he did not doubt that human hese days, in an unprecedented way, that only science can provide reliable evidence was little conflict between science and religion bodies are attracted together by love, but as ear 20 years after the initiation the United States is rolling down the for our beliefs about reality.” except for the debate on the position of earth a scientist he bracketed these matters. In my of talks over the peace gas pipe- hill faster than ever towards some Following is the text of the interview with in our solar system, until the development of view, nothing found in physics or biology or the line, beginning as the Iran-Pa- T Professor Taliaferro: evolutionary biology with Darwin. Evolution social sciences rules out a religious worldview, N sort of societal collapse and the waning kistan-India gas pipeline project, and of its international hegemony. In reality, Q: Is religious science possible or impossi- per se was seen by some, such as Alfred Russell and theology can draw on all sorts of recourses despite the fact that Iran has completed the White House “tenants”, relying too ble? Basically, what are the confrontation and Wallace, the co-founder of evolutionary biolo- from the physical and social sciences, from its part of the pipeline in its territory, much on behind the scene think tanks, non-confrontation fields between religion and gy with Darwin, as how God created life, but in Big Bang cosmology to the study of communal Pakistan has fallen behind the target to has wrongly sought the solution in finding science? What about those sciences like physics Darwin’s later work nature was deemed to lack identities. 7 take delivery of gas, initially scheduled allies in the international arena, and not for 2014. by confronting the actual problems. Iran has repeatedly warned Pa- To escape the apparent chaos, Wash- The deadliest nation on earth kistan about not being determined ington has picked the Islamic Republic of By Jack Perry that this weapon remains legal to purchase in weapon but also the “right” to use this weapon about completion of the project, and Iran to blame for its ills. Thus, the western ARIZONA — People around the world are the United States. After all, the United States against people throughout the Middle East to the disputes between the two coun- security services and their Arab allies in the shocked that the same weapon that has been doles out weapons freely to regimes around the allegedly defend that right. At this time, “freedom” tries seem to become more intense in Middle East have spared no effort to create used in nearly every mass murder event in the globe or terrorists trying to oust governments the in the United States means the use of horrifying recent years to an extent that Iran is internal division, turmoil and chaos in Iran United States remains legal to purchase today United States does not like. The United States levels of violence and excusing it when it colors considering taking legal actions in this and to criticize Iran’s unrelated human rights, after the last event in which 17 kids were shot itself is awash in guns. There are roughly 300 outside of the lines with the blood-red crayon. regard or even the total cancelation missile defense and alleged nuclear issues. and killed by a gunman using this weapon. This million privately owned guns in the United States. That being, when a mass shooter opens fire on a of the high-profile, $7-billion project Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- weapon is the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle. People That we know of. That doesn’t count illegal guns school, the United States considers that “collateral over lengthy construction delays from yahu’s actions at the Munich Security Confer- who have encountered the United States military or ones made before anyone started counting. damage” that goes along with the so-called right the Pakistani side. ence last month, along with a British-drafted know that this weapon is carried by them. See, Arms manufacturers in the United States count to own this weapon. Just like when the United Whatever decision Iran makes, if resolution against Tehran recently backed the AR-15 is the civilian version of the M-16 fam- on both domestic and foreign sales to boost that States military blows up a school, hospital, or it is not going through with the deal, by U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Nikki ily of weapons from which the current military bottom line and, indeed, it is buoyed by blood. wedding party with its guns, that’s also “collateral would deprive energy-starved Pakistan Haley, have all aimed to demonize Iran. M-4 comes. The United States calls this “freedom”. That damage”. I’m sure that brings comfort to the of about 22 million cubic meters of At the conference, Netanyahu, with gas a day it would have received from Be that as it may, people should not be shocked means not just the alleged “right” to purchase this dead in both cases. 7 the blood of Palestinians on his hands, its neighbor. showed a piece of the wreckage of the Iran and Pakistan started negoti- Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ating the IP gas pipeline in 1995 and that was shot down by Israel a month ago. soon after a preliminary agreement was Recently, the UK drafted a UN Security signed between the two countries. This Council resolution condemning Iran for A peek into agreement foresaw construction of a violating the arms embargo on Yemen and pipeline from Iran’s South Pars gas calling for measures to address this alleged field, in the southwest of the country, violation. U.S. demands to limit Iran’s atmospheric to Karachi in Pakistan. ballistic missile program are, however, an Later India proposed joining the project unreachable goal portraying Washington’s to extend the pipeline from Pakistan into failures in the region. Ganjali Khan India. In February 1999, Iran and India Meanwhile, Tehran has repeatedly also inked an agreement in this regard. declared that its defense capability is However India withdrew from the not up for negotiation and bargaining complex project in 2009, over pricing and secu- as it would put the country’s security in rity issues. Photo depicts an interior view of the his- a compromising position. Three years later in September 2012, torical Ganjali Khan bathhouse in Kerman, It is a given that the only way to reach the IP gas pipeline project was announced southeastern Iran, on March 2, 2018. peace and tranquility in the world is for the to commence before October 2012 and be The lavishly decorated structure is a sub- U.S. and its European allies to review and halt completed by December 2014. set of a vast complex named after a regional policies that have led to the bloodshed and The IP pipeline, would cover a distance governor who ordered its construction in killing of defenseless and innocent people of 1,900 kilometers, initially it would bring the early 17th century during the Safavid in Palestine, Yemen, Bahrain, Afghanistan, 750 million cubic feet of gas per day, which dynasty. Iraq, Syria and other countries. could later be enhanced to one billion Covering an area of 11,000 square meters, Thus, I suggest that Washington end cubic feet per day. Abouzar Ahmadizadeh the complex also comprises a madrasa, a its long-range ballistic missile and nuclear Pakistan was slated to begin Iranian gas mosque, a caravanserai, a water reservoir weapons programs so that the attitude of imports in early 2015, but the country has and a labyrinth bazaar all centered on a people in Iran and elsewhere towards the IRNA/ not yet begun construction of the related large public square. U.S. shifts towards trust and potential accord. pipeline. 4 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS MARCH 4, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Rouhani offers Iran’s defense program has condolence to Azeri president nothing to do with France: Velayati POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Akbar of relations between Tehran and Paris. POLITICS TEHRAN — President Hassan Rouhani deskVelayati, a top foreign He added Iran will not let interference deskhas offered his condolences to Azeri Pres- policy adviser to the Leader of the Islamic in its affairs. ident Ilham Aliyev over a fatal fire in a drug abuse treatment Revolution, said on Saturday that Iran’s Le Drian’s trip was scheduled to take center in Baku, IRIB news reported. defense program has nothing to do with place in January 2018 but it was postponed “I was deeply saddened by the news of the death of Azer- any other country including France. for some reasons. baijani citizens as a result of the fire in the Republican Drug “Defensive preparedness is among basic French President Emmanuel Macron Abuse Treatment in Baku. I extend my deepest condolences rights of any nation. No country can decide said in February that the international to you and the families of the victims,” Rouhani said in his for us or others. It is the Islamic Republic of community needs “to put Iran under letter of condolence. Iran who should decide on the type of missile surveillance over its ballistic missiles”. it can possess,” Velayati told reporters after “It’s indispensable for the security of a meeting with Japanese Deputy Foreign the region and so we need a mechanism Minister Takeo Mori in Tehran. of sanctions and control adapted to that,” Iran, Japan His comments came as French Foreign he claimed. discuss regional, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is scheduled In remarks on Saturday, General Mas- to visit Iran this week. soud Jazayeri, Iran’s deputy military chief, international Velayati noted that the French foreign said Tehran will not negotiate on its missile minister should avoid adopting negative program unless the West abandons its issues position against Iran if he seeks expansion long range missiles and nuclear weapons. POLITICS TEHRAN — Japanese Deputy Foreign deskMinister Takeo Mori who had visited Teh- ran held talks on Saturday with Iranian Foreign Minister No missile talks unless West gives up nuclear arms: Iranian general Mohammad Javad Zarif, discussing regional and interna- POLITICS TEHRAN — Brigadier General Mas- missile capability, emphasizing that such a power could Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani share the united tional issues. desksoud Jazayeri, the deputy chief of the not have been achieved through talks. position that “our defense issue is not the business of During the meeting, Zarif referred to good ties between Iranian Armed Forces, says the Islamic Republic will Iran has repeatedly said that its missile program is only foreign countries and they cannot say what kind of the two countries in various fields, highlighting the growing not negotiate on its ballistic missiles until the United for defensive purposes. It has also refused calls for negoti- missile we can have.” economic cooperation between the two countries. States and Europe give up their nuclear weapons and ations over its missile program. Velayati said Iran cannot remain “indifferent” as other Bilateral ties, regional and international issues and the long-range missiles. Iranian officials also say the country’s missile program countries in the region are arming themselves with sophis- Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive In remarks on Saturday, General Jazayeri denounced is not related to the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with ticated weapons. Plan of Action (JCPOA), were among topics reviewed by Washington’s anti-Iran remarks, saying the Americans’ six world powers which led to the lifting of sanctions The former foreign minister said, “Defense preparation the two officials. rhetoric about restricting Iran’s missile power is only a against Tehran. is the basic rights of every nation and no country can decide “wishful thinking”. Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior foreign policy advisor to for us or any other country.” “The precondition for negotiating Iran’s missiles is the the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, also told reporters Foreign Minister Zarif has told the West that when Boroujerdi to destruction of the nuclear weapons and long-range missiles on Saturday that “the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defense Saddam Hussein was raining down missiles on Iranian of America and Europe,” the top general said, ISNA reported. issue is not business of any other country”. cities in the 1980s no country sold a single missile to Iran attend economic He said the U.S. is in a weak position in the face of Iran’s He added Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad to defend its civilians. forum in Russia U.S. seeks to lessen Iran role in Syria: Trump will likely extend sanctions POLITICS TEHRAN — Head of Parliament National ex-diplomat waivers on Iran: official deskSecurity and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi is scheduled to attend the international POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali POLITICS TEHRAN — Amir desk desk economic forum in Moscow on March 6-7. Khorram, a senior an- Hossein Zamanin- Leading a delegation, Boroujerdi will attend the forum alyst and former Iranian ambassador to ia, Iran’s deputy oil minister for themed Future of Districts: Expansion of Cooperation in UN bodies in Vienna, has said that the international affairs, said on Sat- Moscow, IRNA reported. U.S. seeks to lessen Iran’s role in Syria. urday that U.S. President Donald The visit takes place upon official invitation extended by In an interview with ISNA published on Trump will likely extend sanctions head of the Russian Duma. Saturday, Khorram said, “It seems that Syria waivers on Iran in May. The annual economic forum is to examine various topics, has turned into a place for U.S.-Russia con- “I predict that Donald Trump exchange views and experiences in developing districts, es- frontation and the U.S. seeks to stay in Syria.” will extend waivers on nuclear tablish economic cooperation between companies, traders He added, “They [the U.S.] make efforts sanctions in May 2018,” he said and investors in order to design a common plan to help to prevent the Bashar al-Assad government in a conference arranged by the Oil resolve economic problems in those districts. from gaining strength and also undermine sovereignty over the capital city and its Ministry in Tehran. Iran, the five permanent mem- Syria’s national sovereignty and territo- suburbs so that terrorists would not be “After that,” he added, “the bers of the UN Security Council - rial integrity; however, stopping Russia’s able to launch mortars at Damascus. JCPOA [the Joint Comprehensive the U.S., UK, France, Russia, and actions is another objective of them.” The UN Security Council adopted a Plan of Action] will be implemented China – Germany and the European ‘Majlis considering Commenting on a resolution adopted resolution on February 24, demanding in a better way.” Union struck the nuclear agreement by the UN Security Council demanding a 30-day truce across Syria. In a statement on January 12, on July 14, 2015. Islamic Azad a 30-day truce across Syria, he said, “In The resolution does not cover militants Trump extended the waivers on Since the JCPOA went into force fact, the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia from Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and the sanctions; however he gave Euro- in January 2016, the United Na- University coalition were trying to ask for the truce so Nusra Front.Major General Mohammad peans only 120 days to agree to an tions’ International Atomic Energy dismissals’ that the terrorist groups would recover.” Baqeri, chief of the Iranian armed forc- overhaul of the nuclear agreement Agency has issued ten reports each He noted that the terrorist groups es, said on February 25 that the whole and said if the text of the deal is time confirming Tehran’s complete POLITICS TEHRAN — The Majlis Education and should leave east of Damascus and the territory of Syria should be cleansed of not revised he would unilaterally compliance with the multilateral desk Research Committee will follow up on Syrian government should promote its terrorists in future months. withdraw the U.S. from it. agreement. the Islamic Azad University (IAU) for dismissal of some professors as well as other issues, a committee member said on Saturday. MP Fatemeh Saeidi said IAU chancellor Farhad Rahbar Terrorists use civilians as human shield in Eastern Ghouta: Iran will be invited to the parliamentary committee to respond to Iran has criticized Western media for launching propagan- people trying to leave Eastern Ghouta, he added. questions regarding the recent controversies surrounding da campaign against the Syrian army’s counter-terrorism He said Iran is still of the belief that the Syria crisis is the university, ISNA reported. operations, saying snipers stationed near designated safe solvable through national dialogue in such a way that people’s On Rahbar’s possible resignation, Saeidi said as passages are preventing civilians from leaving Eastern Gh- choice can be respected, a national solidarity plan can be long as he is the president of the IAU, he will be held outa near Damascus. implemented with the support of the Syrian government accountable. Addressing the Friday session of the UN Human Rights and the civil society, calm and stability can return to many Commission, Iranian representative Mohsen Qanei said the parts of the country and refugees can return to their homes. brutalities of armed terrorist groups supported by some The Friday emergency session of the UN Human Rights known countries against civilians over the past seven years Council was held at the request of Britain to study the situ- Judiciary have reached their climax, posing a serious threat to world ation of Eastern Ghouta region, which lays on the outskirt peace and security. of Damascus. issues arrest Referring to close cooperation between the so called mod- Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, Eastern Ghouta warrant against erate groups and the terrorists belonging to Tahrir al-Sham has been under control of terrorists and because of the large (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), the Iranian envoy said although number of civilians living there, the Syrian army has not Mortazavi the UN Security Council approved Resolution 2401 calling continuing their attacks on residential areas in Damascus managed to take control of the region. for immediate ceasefire in Syria, the terrorist groups are and other government-controlled regions. They even shoot (Source: IRNA) POLITICS TEHRAN — The Judiciary has issued deska warrant for the arrest of former judge and prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi. IRGC says to help government counter Ambassador: Iran, Russia to continue Mortazavi was officially sentenced on February 28 to two years in prison for his role in the deaths of inmates while in goods smuggling military-technical co-op the Kahrizak detention center. Citing judiciary officials, Mir-Majid Taheri, who repre- POLITICS TEHRAN —IRGC Moscow and Tehran will continue to desk sents one of the victims of the Kahrizak detention center, spokesman Ramazan develop cooperation in the military-tech- said on Saturday that the Mortazavi case is on the agenda Sharif said on Saturday that the Islam- nical sphere, which is facilitated by the of the Judiciary, Tasnim reported. ic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) interaction of countries in the fight against The appellate court session for Mortazavi was held on would help the government to counter terrorism in Syria, Iranian ambassador October 10 but due to his absence the session was canceled smuggling of goods. to Russia Mehdi Sanaee said in an in- and it was postponed to November 21. Sharif said that countering smug- terview with TASS agency. gling would help creating jobs and He added that earlier the two countries boosting economy. The brigadier also cooperated in the military-technical general also noted that Leader of sphere and the supply of the S-300 missile Ambassador the Islamic Revolution has criticized defense system became an “important mo- rebuffs Australian lack of determination in supporting ment” in the military-defense cooperation domestic production and fighting between the two countries. politicians for smuggling. Elsewhere, the IRGC official said “Of course, cooperation between Rus- nical sphere despite Western countries’ “The Islamic Revolution Guards that smuggling has negative political sia and Iran in countering terrorism in attempts to suspend it. insults Corps is ready to solve problems in and cultural effects in addition to eco- Syria has also created a favorable basis Iran and Russia have been support- POLITICS TEHRAN — Two Australian politicians the country based on its mission and nomic ones. for the development of military-techni- ing the government of Beshar al-As- deskinsulted Iranian immigrants on television duty and has taken the critical respon- Experts say that every $1b worth cal cooperation between our countries,” sad against militants mostly backed while the Australian government has not answered to a draft sibility to fight smuggling of goods in of smuggled goods costs 100,000 job Sanaee stated. by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, the of extradition law written by Iran, the Iranian ambassador the Persian Gulf,” he explained. losses. The sides cooperate in the military-tech- United States and France. to Canberra has said. “According to the Sydney police, an Iranian couple was charged with selling crystal or ice in an immigrants camp,” Littoral states agree on Caspian legal status draft convention said Andolhussein Vahaji, IRNA reported on Friday. The ministers of the Caspian littoral states have agreed on at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian states was texts of the draft convention were checked in Russian, The incident was shown in a program titled “A Current a draft convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, held in Moscow,” the Foreign Ministry said. Farsi and English in order to prepare it for signing as soon Affair on 26th February 2018”. In the program, Senator the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a message on March 2. Delegations from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia as possible during the forthcoming fifth Caspian summit. Pauline Hanson claimed that Iran disagrees with ex- “The 50th meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on and Turkmenistan attended the meeting. The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group will be tradition of criminals and Labor leader Mark Latham drafting of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Following the meeting, the draft Convention on the held in Kazakhstan. called them “trash”. Sea, dedicated to the implementation of the decisions made Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was agreed upon and the (Source: Trend) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MARCH 4, 2018 INTERNATIONAL Iraq ‘will never allow U.S. bases on its soil’ Putin tells U.S. to send Iraq says it will under no circumstances per- bombardment campaign against purported mit the United States to build permanent Daesh targets in Iraq. evidence of vote meddling military bases on its soil, which would be a That coalition continues to be present violation of its sovereignty. in Iraq even as the Iraqi leadership an- Russian President Vladimir Putin told Washington to send him “Baghdad firmly rejects the construction nounced the end of the war on Daesh in the hard evidence that his citizens meddled in U.S. elections, mock- of U.S. military bases on its soil,” said Iraqi country in December last year. ing accusations to date as “yelling and hollering in the United Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jaafari at the end Last month, NATO even agreed to a U.S. States Congress”. of an extended visit to Russia on Friday. demand to deploy a larger military mission The office of U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged Iraq will “not stand on ceremony” when to Iraq. 13 Russians and three firms last month with interfering in the it comes to the protection of its sovereignty, Earlier, on Tuesday, Jaafari told reporters 2016 presidential vote as part of what it called a conspiracy to he said. He said that, back in 2014, when in Moscow that Baghdad was thoroughly con- support Donald Trump and disparage Hillary Clinton. Baghdad asked for international help in fight- sidering purchasing Russia’s surface-to-air “I have to see first what they’ve done. Give us materials, give ing the Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh, it S-400 missile defense systems. us information,” Putin said in an interview with NBC TV aired said the potential contribution had to meet “The issue is being studied in every detail,” late on Friday, according to an English voice-over of his words. the requirements of Iraq’s sovereignty and he said. “All necessary decisions aimed at “We can not respond to that if they do not violate Russian independence. strengthening Iraq will be made after that.” laws,” Putin told NBC’s Megyn Kelly, when asked whether Moscow Jaafari said Baghdad had made the matter Late last month, the U.S. warned Iraq would take action against the named individuals. clear that contributions to its counter-ter- through State Department spokeswoman Kelly listed some of the accusations of Russian interference rorism operations should not lead to the es- Heather Neuert of the consequences of ex- made by Mueller’s office and other U.S. officials, including the tablishment of military bases or permanent tending military cooperation with Russia spreading of false information online. foreign military presence in its territory. and striking deals to purchase advanced “With all due respect for you personally, with all due respect “Iraq’s sovereignty is our red line,” the weaponry, particularly the S-400 systems. for Congress, you must have people with legal degrees, 100 per- Iraqi foreign minister said. Neuert said Washington had contact- cent you do,” Putin said smiling. He pointed to the presence of permanent ed Baghdad and many other countries to He said U.S. authorities should send Russia’s general pros- U.S. military bases in “South Korea, Turkey, puts the number at far lower. effectively ending the invasion and occupation explain the significance of the Countering ecutor an official request. Japan, and many other world countries” long In 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq to topple of the Arab country. America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act “This has to go through official channels, not through the after the end of World War II and said the the then-regime of Saddam Hussein, who But the destruction that the war had caused, (CAATSA) — which targets Russia, Iran, and press or yelling and hollering in the United States Congress,” bases violated those countries’ sovereignty. the U.S. and Britain falsely claimed was in including the decimation of the Iraqi security North Korea — and possible consequenc- Putin said. According to U.S. government data, there possession of weapons of mass destruction. structure, allowed Daesh to emerge in 2014. es that would arise in the wake of defense The broadcast came a day after Putin announced an array of are about 9,000 American troops in Iraq. Former U.S. President Barack Obama pulled In September that same year, the U.S. led agreements with Moscow. new nuclear weapons, in one of his most bellicose speeches in The U.S. Department of Defense, though, out all U.S. combat troops from Iraq in 2011, a number of its allies in launching an aerial (Source: agencies) years, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield. Putin is standing in March 18 elections that polls indicate Saudi crown prince to visit Egypt, Cambodia PM accuses U.S. of lying he should win easily. partner in Saudi adventures about aid suspension (Source: Reuters)

North Korea threatens to “counter” U.S. over military drills

North Korea threatened on Saturday to “counter the U.S.” if the United States holds joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the drills would harm reconciliation efforts on the peninsula. The United States is due to start joint exercises in early April, a South Korean presidential security adviser said this week ac- cording to Yonhap news agency - the latest in a series of drills that the north has regularly described as a threat. “If the U.S. finally holds joint military exercises while keeping sanctions on the DPRK, the DPRK will counter the U.S. by its Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed 13,600 people and led to a humanitarian Cambodia’s prime minister has slammed Do you intend to distort the reputation of own mode of counteraction and the U.S. will be made to own all bin Salman is scheduled to travel to Egypt, crisis in the impoverished state. the U.S. administration for being dishonest Cambodia?” The U.S. Embassy in Phnom responsibilities for the ensuing consequences,” North Korea’s a key partner in Saudi regional adventures In a move seen as indicative of its obe- about the “suspension” of aid to the South- Penh, however, refused to comment about official KCNA news agency said in its commentary. whose president came to power after a coup dience to the Riyadh regime, Egypt in April east Asian nation, saying Washington’s the prime minister’s remarks. The DPRK is the acronym of the country’s official name, the staged with Riyadh’s blessing. 2016 agreed to hand over two of its islands aid cut had actually taken place in 2016. According to the report, Washington’s Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The office of Egyptian President Abdel — the strategic Tiran and Sanafir islands in The White House announced Tuesday decision to partially suspend its aid to On Feb. 23, the United States said it was imposing its largest Fattah el-Sisi announced in a statement on the Red Sea — to Saudi Arabia, triggering that it was suspending or curtailing several of Cambodia came amid an ongoing govern- package of sanctions to pressure North Korea to give up its nu- Friday that the Saudi crown prince was due protests at home. Treasury, USAID and military aid programs ment crackdown on the nation’s political clear and missile programs. President Donald Trump warned in Cairo on Sunday for a three-day visit. Egyptian opponents of the deal said Sisi aimed at supporting Cambodia’s military, opposition, Hun Sen’s critics, as well as of a “phase two” that could be “very, very unfortunate for the Bin Salman will then head to the United effectively surrendered Egyptian sovereign- taxation department and local authorities, opposition lawmakers and non-govern- world” if the steps did not work. Kingdom on March 7 and to the United ty, especially as reports emerged saying that claiming that they were all responsible for mental organizations months prior to a KCNA accused Washington of trying to “bring dark clouds States on March 19. Cairo was receiving 20 billion dollars in the country’s recent political instability. July general election. of a war to hang over the Korean peninsula.” Saudi Arabia and Egypt have strength- aid from Riyadh in return for the handover Reacting to the announcement, Prime Hun Sen, who the report describes “The U.S. is swimming against the trend for the detente on ened relations since 2013, when Sisi took of the islands. Minister Hun Sen said Washington’s am- as “a close ally of China,” has often criti- the Korean peninsula,” KCNA said. power following the military overthrow According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, bassador to Phnom Penh, William Heidt, cized Washington publicly, specifically for South Korea plans to send a special envoy to North Korea in of Egypt’s first democratically-elected Israel had expressed its approval of the was lying and insisted that U.S. aid to Cam- dropping bombs on Cambodia during the response to an invitation from leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean president, Mohamed Morsi. deal during talks with the Egyptian side bodia’s tax department was slashed back Vietnam War, which concluded in 1975. President Moon Jae-in told Trump in a phone call on Thursday. Sisi, then the commander of the mil- provided that freedom of navigation for in 2016, Reuters reported. He has also accused the leader of the main The Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang last month gave a boost itary, enjoyed Saudi support in staging Israeli ships through the area would be “We, the 16 million people, didn’t receive opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party to recent engagement between the two Koreas after sharply rising the coup. guaranteed. American aid in the tax sector. This aid was (CNRP), who was detained and jailed last year, tensions over the North’s missile program. Egypt is also a key ally of Saudi Arabia Bin Salman’s visit comes weeks ahead already finished in 2016,” said the prime of conspiring with Washington to topple him. (Source: Reuters) in an ongoing war on Yemen and an eco- of Egypt’s presidential election, with minister during a speech to thousands of Meanwhile, the White House has said nomic and diplomatic standoff with Qatar, Sisi expected to easily win a second term garment workers in the country’s southern the U.S. had spent over $1 billion worth of a fellow Arab country. in office as all real challengers have been province of Preah Sihanouk. aid for Cambodia and that its assistance On both fronts, the Saudi-led countries detained, prosecuted, or intimidated out He then added, “Please, U.S. Ambassa- to the country for health, agriculture and ‘Syrian forces advancing have failed to achieve their objectives. The of the race. dor, answer this one question: why did you mine-clearing will continue. war on Yemen has so far killed more than (Source: AFP) announce cutting aid while there is no aid? (Source: Reuters) methodically in Eastern Ghouta’ Trump’s shift in gun stance baffles lawmakers A Syrian commander reportedly says pro-government forces are advancing methodically against militants in the Damascus In his quest to tackle gun violence, President Donald Trump ter the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in suburb of Eastern Ghouta, which anti-Damascus militants have has ricocheted between calling for tougher laws and de- Connecticut that left 20 children dead. been using to launch attacks on civilians in the Syrian capital. claring his fealty to the Second Amendment’s right to bear Sanders sought to clarify Trump’s comments earlier in the The commander told Reuters on Friday that government arms, leaving a trail of befuddled lawmakers and advocates week expressing support for tougher background checks and troops had retaken some villages on Eastern Ghouta’s Maraj in his wake. interest in raising the minimum age to buy certain weapons. area and made “notable” advances on the western edge of the One thing he still has not done: clearly outline his leg- She said he was interested in improving background checks, Harasta area. He said the forces were moving one neighborhood islative priorities. but “not necessarily universal background checks.” And she or village at a time. Washington’s week closed Friday without further expla- said that while Trump “conceptually” supports higher age An elite government unit known as the Tiger Force is involved nation from the president, the White House indicating that requirements to purchase certain weapons, “he also knows in the Eastern Ghouta operations. for now, at least, he is backing an incremental proposal on there’s not a lot of broad support for that.” Meanwhile, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human background checks and a bill that would provide new federal The president also wants to use an executive order to Rights confirmed that the pro-Damascus forces had recaptured dollars to stem school violence. bar the use of bump-stock devices that enable guns to fire a number of buildings in Harasta. The UK-based monitoring Just what Trump would like to see in the “beautiful” like automatic weapons. group also said that the Syrian forces had wrested control of and “comprehensive” bill he called for earlier in the week After Republican anxiety about Trump’s comments the Eastren Ghouta villages of Hawsh al-Dawahra and Hawsh remained unclear. That comment came at a bipartisan meet- seeming to express openness to tougher gun controls, the Zreika in addition to hills and farmland. ing with lawmakers Wednesday, which was quickly followed executive director of the NRA, Chris Cox was positive about From inside Eastern Ghouta, foreign-backed militants have by a private session with the National Rifle Association on their Thursday night meeting. He tweeted that Trump and been launching indiscriminate mortar and rocket attacks on the Thursday. “Good (Great) meeting in the Oval Office tonight Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who is a lead- Vice President Mike Pence “support the Second Amendment, capital, which have resulted in the death of a number of civilians. with the NRA!” Trump tweeted Thursday night. ing advocate of tougher gun laws, predicted on Twitter: “The support strong due process and don’t want gun control.” But there are civilians in Eastern Ghouta, too, and the govern- He had outlined some of his preferences via Twitter earlier White House is going to bob and weave on guns. Accept it.” As part of Trump’s efforts to consider various responses ment has had to navigate with care. Russia, which is giving Syria Thursday, saying that both good and bad ideas had come out Still, he added: “Trump’s instinct on this issue is not to gun violence, next week he plans to host members of advisory military help, has established humanitarian corridors of the bipartisan meeting. He said: “Background Checks a wrong - if his party doesn’t get behind background checks the video game industry. He has repeatedly referenced the to allow the civilians out. big part of conversation. Gun free zones are proven targets soon, they’re cooked in 2018 and 2020.” And he argued that violence in movies and video games during conversations Syria’s official SANA news agency reported on Friday that of killers. After many years, a Bill should emerge. Respect Trump’s “willingness to buck the gun lobby in public, rule about guns and school safety since the Florida shooting. the al-Nusra Front and other terrorist outfits were preventing 2nd Amendment!” out the NRA agenda and talk up background checks, has Sanders said invitations started going out Thursday, and civilians from leaving Eastern Ghouta through the safe corridors. Amid the confusion, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc- changed this debate nationally.” event details were being finalized. The Entertainment Soft- Additionally, a Syrian military source told SANA that the Connell has shelved the gun debate for now, saying the Senate White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders ware Association, a trade group that represents the video United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western states will turn next week to other measures. said Friday that Trump supports a limited proposal from game industry, said Friday the group and its members had had even given terrorist groups instructions to stage a chemical Disagreement continues among legislators over the ap- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Murphy that would boost not been invited. attack in Eastern Ghouta and pin the blame on the government. propriate response after the Florida school shooting that participation in the existing federal background check pro- Nicole Hockley, who lost a child at Sandy Hook, has at- Western countries have said they would attack Syrian gov- left 17 dead. Republicans have largely backed away from gram, as well as a bill that would provide new federal grant tended two White House meetings with Trump and said ernment positions if it conducts chemical attacks, and false flag stricter gun limits, while Democrats emboldened by Trump’s funding to stem school violence. she remained optimistic. operations could be mounted to incriminate the Syrian govern- rhetoric are pushing for ambitious action, including expand- Sanders said Trump had not signed on to a more sweep- “By listening to President Trump’s words I do feel he is ment and trigger international military intervention. ed background checks and even a politically risky ban on ing background check bill that would require the review of committed to finding a way forward and he is committed This is while Syria, beginning in 2013, gradually gave up its assault weapons. firearm purchases online and at gun shows. The measure, to putting a plan together,” she said. “I don’t know what entire chemical arsenal under a deal that included Russia and As is often the case, the president has been an unreliable from Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., the content will be.” the U.S. negotiator. has found new momentum since it was first introduced af- (Source: AP) (Source: SANA) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY MARCH 4, 2018

STOCK MARKET 3 TEDPIX 97388.7 IPC deals IFX 1080.2 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir to come close CURRENCIES USD 44,670 rials EUR 54,910 rials to signing by GBP 68,130 rials AED 13,390 rials Source: mehrnews.com Mar. 20 ECONOMY TEHRAN – Three to be signed will be in charge of operations deskdeals based on Iran’s at the awarded fields for a 20-year period. COMMODITIES new model of oil contracts (known as Speaking at the 2nd Iran International NIOC Managing Director Ali Kardor speaking at the 2nd Iran International Exploration WTI 61.25/b IPC) will get ready for final signing by Exploration and Production Congress and and Production Congress and Exhibition the end of the current Iranian calendar Exhibition (Iran E&P 2018) in Tehran, Brent 64.37/b year (March 20, 2018), IRNA reported the official noted that North Azadegan several contracts signed in the upcoming is expected to sign 10 deals based on Iran’s OPEC Basket 62.23/b on Saturday quoting an official at NIOC will be the first field to be handed over Iranian calendar year of 1397 (March 2018- new model of oil contracts by the end of as saying. in an IPC-based contract. March 2019)”, he added. the current Iranian calendar year. Gold $1,323.65/oz According to NIOC Managing Director “10 technical groups are currently Earlier in August 2017, Iranian Oil According to the minister, shared oil Ali Kardor, based on the new model the studying and negotiating new oil contracts Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh announce and gas fields are the ministry’s priority Silver $16.56/oz selected companies with which the deals are with the foreign bidders; we hope to see that National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in the IPC-based deals. Platinium $969.75/oz Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com IP gas pipeline: A fading opportunity for Pakistan 1 With Pakistan not being able to complete its Iran announced recently that it is going to sue Pakistan at Iran exports $5.5b of non-oil part of the deal, in November 2016 China Petroleum Pipe- the International Court of Justice in which it could appeal line Bureau (CPPB) expressed readiness to work on the for over $1 billion for compensation from the country. goods to Iraq in 11 months remaining portion of the gas pipeline from Gwadar to the Diplomatic sources say Pakistan is trying to dissuade Iranian border to implement the Iran-Pakistan gas pipe- Iran from taking legal actions against their country, how- ECONOMY TEHRAN — During the 11 months ending line project; however, seemingly the two countries didn’t ever it is evident that they are still shadowed by the U.S deskon February 19, 2018, Iran exported 12 mil- reach an agreement. threats of sanctions. lion tons of non-oil goods to Iraq worth $5.5 billion, the Public Shortly after, in December 2016 Pakistan requested Pakistani officials should not forget the fact that, as Relations Department of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran for amendment in the Gas Sale Purchase Agreement Pakistan Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari Iran (TPO) announced. (GSPA) for implementation of the pipeline project in the put it “The project is crucial for Pakistan considering the extended period. growing energy crisis which is already causing severe elec- Iran agreed to negotiate that along with some other tricity shortages in the country.” amendments and Pakistani side promised funds would As many Pakistani experts and scholars suggest, they be allocated for the Project as per procedure in the due would better start negotiating with Iran without any further course of time. delays to supply their energy needs in the best possible However, after 15 months still there is no signs of any stani side. way and also to prevent paying $1.2 billion for compensa- determination for completing the project from the Paki- Indignant at ongoing delays from the Pakistani side, tion to Iran.

The figure shows 18 percent increase in comparison with the Over $1.8b allocated to SMEs, uncompleted projects in 9 months same period in the preceding year, the report added. ECONOMY TEHRAN — According Iranian calendar year (March 21- December production and job creation. enterprises can pave the way for their activity. According to available data, 66 percent of Iranian goods have deskto the latest data released 21, 2017), IRNA reported on Saturday. In Iran, unfortunately, lack of liquidity Establishment of industrial clusters and been exported to China, Iraq, South Korea, and Afghanistan in by Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mining and According to the report, the semi-finished and also other barriers such as bureaucracy making contacts between them, facilitation the said time, while China and Iraq are the major importers. Trade, some 82.13 trillion rials (about $1.84 projects receiving the supplied finance had and red tape are impeding the fruitful role of advertisement condition for the SMEs to billion) has been paid to fund the activity of more than 60 percent of progress. these enterprises can play in economic sector’s introduce their products and services, and 707 small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs are some key drivers of economic growth and employment. appointing some representatives from these Britain’s May sets out Brexit (SMEs) and their semi-finished projects in growth in many developed and underdeveloped Offering facilities besides providing banking enterprises in the evaluation committees of the vision for trade deal deeper Iran in the first nine months of the current countries through high contribution to loans, and offering tax exemptions to these banks can be other strategies to support them. than any other ‘Trade wars are good,’ Trump says defying global concern over tariffs British Prime Minister Theresa May set out her vision on Friday U.S. President Donald Trump struck a defiant be the next victims of Chinese cheating,” said ministration. House with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, for a Brexit deal deeper and wider than any free trade agreement tone on Friday, saying trade wars were good Senator Sherrod Brown, a liberal and populist While Trump often lays out stark policy White House economic adviser Gary Cohn and in the world, telling the European Union it is in their “shared and easy to win, after his plan to put tariffs on Democrat from Ohio. positions which he later rolls back as part of a Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and interest”. steel and aluminum imports triggered threats However, Governor Scott Walker of Wis- negotiating tactic, White House spokeswoman the U.S. officials stressed concerns about the Below are the highlights from her speech and a follow-up of retaliation from trading partners and a slide consin, a fellow Republican, urged Trump to Sarah Sanders said the levels of the planned U.S. trade deficit with China, market access and question-and-answer session with reporters: in stock markets. rethink the tariffs. tariffs were not expected to change. unfair treatment of U.S. companies. May on implementation period The European Union raised the possibility “If the president wants to protect good- Capital Alpha Partners, a policy research “We held frank conversations,” a White “We are close to agreement on the terms of the implementa- of taking countermeasures, France said the paying, family-supporting jobs in America, group in Washington, said a quick reversal by House spokeswoman said. We continue to be tion period which was a key element in the December deal.” duties would be unacceptable, and China urged especially here in Wisconsin, then he should Trump was highly unlikely. open to an exchange of ideas on how to resolve “Both the UK and EU are clear this implementation period Trump to show restraint. Canada, the biggest reconsider the administration’s position on these “We also don’t see a chance for fine tuning, these concerns.” must be time limited and cannot become a permanent solution.” supplier of steel and aluminum to the United tariffs, particularly on ultra-thin aluminum,” exceptions, carve outs, or a country-by-country White House officials said Trump himself did May on complexity of task ahead States, said it would retaliate if hit by U.S. tariffs. Walker said in a statement. policy” in the short term, the group said in a not stop by the meeting with Liu as he sometimes “We are now approaching a crucial moment. There is no es- The S&P 500 ended another turbulent week Many economists say that instead of increas- research note.“We would be hopeful that the does when senior foreign dignitaries, including caping the complexity of the task ahead of us. We must not only on an upbeat note Friday but major indexes ing employment, price increases for consumers policy could be modified in time.” Chinese officials, are visiting. negotiate our exit from an organisation that touches so many posted their worst week of losses since early of steel and aluminum such as the auto and The United States is the world’s biggest steel China, which Trump frequently accuses of important parts of our national life, we must also build a new February as Trump’s threat to impose import oil industries will destroy more U.S. jobs than importer, buying 35.6 million tonnes in 2017. unfair trade practices, earlier called for restraint. and lasting relationship while, given the uncertainty inherent tariffs on steel and aluminum rattled inves- they create. Peter Navarro, a White House adviser with “China urges the United States to show in this negotiation, preparing for every scenario.” tors. The dollar fell against most currencies, Retaliation likely largely protectionist views on trade and author restraint in using protective trade measures, May on need for arbitration mechanism dropping to its lowest in more than two years Major U.S. trade partners are likely to hit of a book entitled“Death By China,” brushed off respect multilateral trade rules, and make a “We will need an arbitration mechanism that is completely against the yen, as Trump’s tariffs proposal back. the negative effects of tariffs on U.S. industry. positive contribution to international trade independent, something which again is common to free trade raised prospects of a damaging trade war. Europe has drawn up a list of U.S. prod- He said a 10 percent tariff on aluminum order,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua agreements. This will ensure that any disagreements about the Trump said on Thursday that a plan for ucts on which to apply tariffs if Trump follows would add one cent to the cost of a can of Chunying said. purpose or scope of the agreement can be resolved fairly and tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 through on his plan. beer, $45 to a car and $20,000 to a Boeing Although China accounts for only 2 percent promptly.” percent on aluminum products would be for- “We will put tariffs on Harley-Davidson, on 727 Dreamliner.“Big price effects? Negligible of U.S. steel imports, its massive industry ex- May on UK membership of EU agencies mally announced next week. bourbon and on blue jeans - Levi’s,” European price effects,” he told Fox News. pansion has helped produce a global steel glut “We will also want to explore with the EU how the UK could “When a country (USA) is losing many bil- Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker But home appliance maker Electrolux that has driven down prices. remain part of the EU agencies, such as the chemicals, medicines lions of dollars on trade with virtually every told German television. (ELUXb.ST) said it was delaying a $250 mil- The EU, which sees itself as a global coun- and aerospace industries. country it does business with, trade wars are Trump’s threats to unleash a trade war over lion expansion of its plant in Tennessee as it terweight to a protectionist-leaning Trump, “We would of course accept that this would mean abiding good, and easy to win,” Trump said on Twitter steel crushed any hopes of substantial progress in was worried U.S. steel prices would rise and spoke of countermeasures conforming with by the rules of those organisations and making an appropriate on Friday. current talks with Canada and Mexico to rework make manufacturing there less competitive. World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. financial contribution.” In a later social media post, the Republi- the North American Free Trade Agreement, Trump’s administration has imposed a series Safeguard measures, last deployed by Europe May on challenges of negotiation ahead can president said his aim was to protect U.S. heightening fears for the trade deal’s future. of trade duties on a range of goods from solar in 2002 after then-U.S. President George W. jobs in the face of cheaper foreign products, a panels to washing machines. Bush imposed steel import duties, would be “Yes there will be ups and downs in the months ahead. As in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau any negotiation no-one will get everything they want, we will not familiar theme in the“America First” credo he said any U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum It is even studying whether America’s rubber designed to guard against steel and aluminum be buffeted by the demands to talk tough or threaten a walkout, campaigned on for the 2016 election. would be“absolutely unacceptable” and vowed band makers need protection as Trump seeks being diverted to Europe from elsewhere if U.S. just as we will not accept the counsels of despair that this simply “We must protect our country and our work- to continue to engage with U.S. officials on the to boost domestic manufacturing and employ- tariffs come in. cannot be done. ers. Our steel industry is in bad shape. IF YOU issue. ment. The decision on steel and aluminum was But to conform with WTO rules such meas- “We will move forward by calm patient discussion of each DON’T HAVE STEEL, YOU DON’T HAVE A The International Monetary Fund also ex- the most wide ranging and provocative to date ures would have to apply to imports from all other’s positions.” COUNTRY!” he wrote. pressed concern, saying the proposed tariffs and there is the prospect of more to come, with countries and could also hit producers including “We have a shared interest in getting this right so let’s get Trump earned some bipartisan support would likely damage the U.S. economy and the government holding an investigation into China, India, Russia, South Korea and Turkey. on with it.” from lawmakers, mainly from America’s rust those of other nations. alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property by China. Economists say that Trump’s own expansion- May when asked whether the UK will think again belt states. Trump’s announcement came after what Trump made his tariff announcement as ary budget policies will fuel ever larger trade “This welcome action is long overdue for one person with direct knowledge described Chinese President Xi Jinping’s top economic deficits, essentially defeating his stated aim of on Brexit “No we won’t think again on Brexit. The British people voted shuttered steel plants across Ohio and steel- as a night of“chaos” in the White House due adviser, Liu He, was visiting Washington. having“balanced trade” with individual countr for Brexit and I think it is incumbent on their politicians to workers who live in fear that their jobs will to frequent switching of positions in the ad- Liu held a second day of talks at the White ies. (Source: Reuters) deliver on the decision that we asked them to take. Parliament overwhelmingly voted for this to be a decision of the British people and I think it’s right that parliament and politicians now Faced with U.S. tax cuts, France, Germany hasten harmonisation deliver on that.” Germany and France will bring forward plans to introduce a “That means when we decide on a joint corporation tax May on Northern Ireland common corporation tax system in response to tax cuts an- assessment basis for France and Germany, we will also con- nounced by the Trump administration, Chancellor Angela sider the realities that are unfolding in America,” she added in “Successive British governments have worked tirelessly to- gether with all the parties in Northern Ireland and with the Irish Merkel said. response to questions by a business studies student. government to bring about the historic achievement of peace. The announcement comes amid unprecedented tensions At the end of last year, the Trump administration floated This is an agreement that we have all worked hard to protect. between the U.S. under President Donald Trump and its long- a tax plan that envisaged slashing the corporation tax from That is why I have consistently put holding up the Belfast agree- standing European allies over Washington’s planned introduc- 35 percent -“very high”, according to Merkel - to 21 percent, ment at the heart of our approach. tion of steel tariffs that Europe fears will distort global trade. prompting protests from European finance ministers. “Our departure poses particular challenges for Northern “We have decided, with more emphasis than in the past, The Europeans fear that international tax competition will Ireland and for Ireland. We joined the EU together 45 years to push on with the‘Common Corporation Tax with France’ increase because of the U.S. moves. So EU members, espe- ago and it’s not surprising that our decision to leave has caused project,” Merkel said in her regular weekend video podcast cially Germany and France, see the need for more tax policy anxiety and a desire for concrete solutions. when asked how Germany’s relative competitiveness could cooperation among themselves to make their markets more (Source: CNBC) be maintained. competitive. (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MARCH 4, 2018 ENERGY 5

Reports of oil demand’s death Why the next oil boom will be fueled by blockchain have been greatly exaggerated By Meredith Taylor The world’s most important industry has been carrying on with- By Chris Midgley Even with aggressive penetration of EVs it will take until late in the next decade before out any significant changes in its day to day routine for far too It’s far too early to be thinking about the near- an inflection in oil demand is observed, with long. But now, the new tech on the block has its sights set on the term demise of fossil fuels. To misquote Mark most demand destruction in the next 10 years multi-trillion-dollar oil and gas sector. Twain, “reports of oil demand’s death have coming from fuel efficiency rather than EV The blockchain technology, which creates secure ledgers for been greatly exaggerated”. displacement. digital transactions and rapidly accelerates the pace at which Many commentators have failed to factor However, while all the focus is on pas- transactions can be made, has the potential to disrupt every major in strong “demand stickiness” for fossil fuels in senger vehicles, we believe commercial road industry: real estate, shipping, banking and healthcare. the near term when considering the trajectory transport could be the game changer through In an industry that has used technology to reduce breakeven for oil consumption. Yet three years of low oil faster turnover of the fleet. costs to all-time lows, create gigantic drilling rigs run by robots, prices have stimulated strong car sales, while Heavy duty trucks and long distance coach- and even tap reserves located 10 miles below the sea, the oil and growing urbanization and a buoyant global es are less feasible for EVs yet do the largest gas sector has been slow to jump on the blockchain bandwagon… economy have boosted demand in various chunk of road miles travelled. This means until now. forms of transportation. that a switch to a zero emissions fuel such as According to a report from the World Economic Forum from So does this hasten the shift from hydrogen could be a bigger disrupter to oil 2017, a digital transformation has already swept across the en- oil to cleaner sources of fuel? demand projections. ergy industry. About two-thirds of oil consumption Hydrogen produced at retail sites could Majors like BP and Shell are making headlines with plans to comes from transportation, with about 40 solve distribution cost issues and energy storage utilize blockchain tech to completely transform how energy is percent of that demand coming from cars. by utilizing cheap renewable energy sources bought and sold. In the passenger vehicle sector all the hype during low-price periods. Smaller players with big ambitions like Canada’s Petroteq is around electric vehicles (EVs), but despite Public and corporate pressure in the aviation are preparing to revolutionize the day to day operations of po- 55 percent sales growth last year, the actual achieving further cost reductions when the comparable to EVs. and chemicals sectors are potentially other tentially every oil operation on the planet. Petroteq could utilize number amounts to less than 2 percent of price of lithium and cobalt tripled last year As such, the debate on air quality should significant disrupters, demanding the use of new technologies to tap massive new reserves of energy, such as new car sales, and less than 0.2 percent of is looking challenging without a leap in in- not be about new cars but about removing renewable fuels and reduction in plastics use the Utah oil sands, while radically reducing environmental risk. the total fleet. novation. the old fleet: scrap page schemes would have respectively. With U.S. President Donald Trump planning a trillion dollar Today’s 3m EVs displace less than about Government subsidies have driven EV de- a far greater impact on air quality and fuels While oil demand is expected to keep grow- infrastructure program, the possibilities for upgrading American 60,000 barrels a day of oil consumption, or mand yet they hit the Treasury coffers twice efficiency than bans on internal combustion ing, there is no denying that we are at the start oil and gas systems throughout the country are immense. less than 0.06 percent of total global demand. via the cost of subsidies and loss of fuels duty engines, kicked down the road to 2040. of a transition. Big oil companies are already BP began experimenting with blockchain technology in 2017. Unlike the transition in the early 1900s revenue. In addition, the electrical grid must first adapting fast by investing heavily into the David Eyton, BP’s head of technology, noted: “There are uses for from the horse and buggy which took just 13 The UK generates $30bn a year from road be decarbonized to avoid charging vehicles production of cleaner fuels, including liquefied blockchain that could give us a competitive advantage.” years for the internal combustion engine to taxes and duties and addressing the budget with “dirty electrons” produced from coal and natural gas and by installing charging points In BP’s pilot program, the company began working with Italian wipe out almost all the buggies, EVs do not balance will be an issue. If governments are other fossil fuels. Solutions to energy storage into their service station networks. supermajor Eni, and Austria’s Wien Energie on a trading platform represent the same marked improvement serious about EVs doing more to curb fossil must be found to manage the intermittency Some are going a step further by investing using blockchain technology. in convenience or quality of life, and in fact fuels, they need to be investing in the charging of renewable supply. in power generation and distribution. But to “The commodity finance industry is hampered by nature by have drawbacks in costs, range and ease of infrastructure not subsidies. S&P Global Platts Analytics’ projections achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement, inefficiencies and outdated procedures. By applying blockchain refueling. Recent government focus has been on are that oil production will have to increase we need to focus our minds not just on electric technology, we expect that we can eliminate a lot of these” The cost of batteries has certainly come improving air quality. Old diesels have high from about 100m b/d today to just under 125m mobility but more disruptive areas impacting And in November, BP joined a blockchain consortium with down significantly over the past seven years nitrogen oxides and particulates emissions, but b/d in 2040 under the “most likely” reference future oil demand growth. fellow industry heavyweights Shell and Statoil, in addition to (from $1000/kWh to about $200/kWh) but new Euro 6 diesels have roadside emissions case to meet rising demand from transport. (Source: Financial Times) commodity trading houses – Gunvor, Koch Supply & Trading, and Mercuria, with the financial backing of Dutch ABN Amro, ING, and French Societe Generale. UK’s oil and gas production Libya’s oil gushing again as output, Patrick Arnaud, Managing Director for Trade & Commodity Finance, ING, said: “The commodity finance industry is hampered predicted to increase exports hit multiyear highs by nature by inefficiencies and outdated procedures. By applying blockchain technology, we expect that we can eliminate a lot of The oil and gas industry regulator has raised Libyan oil is gushing again with production these, making the overall process faster and more cost effective.” its forecast of what can be recovered from and exports surging to the highest in years. Royal Dutch/Shell is taking it a step further, investing in a the waters around the UK over the next Despite unresolved domestic conflicts minority stakein the distributed ledger startup Applied Block- three decades. that first erupted after the ouster of chain. The blockchain firm has created platforms across a range Changes in the way the sector operates dictator Muammar Qaddafi, Libya has of sectors including telecom, manufacturing, and more.’ are thought to have unlocked the potential somehow found a way to get its crude While the supermajors are focused on trading, others are for a further 2.8 billion barrels of oil or the flowing. Already this year, it’s secured looking to the tech for far more creative endeavors. gas equivalent. commitments from some of the world’s Petroteq, a company that made waves in the sector with its It is now estimated that 11.7 billion biggest energy companies, including at least revolutionary patented oil sands tech, has set out on a mission barrels could be recovered between 2016 three new annual cargo-lifting contracts to completely overhaul the industry’s inefficient and error prone to 2050. More than 43 billion barrels have and a $450 million oil-field investment supply chain management protocols. been extracted from UK waters so far. Peak plan for maximizing economic recovery from France’s Total SA. Petroteq was recently cited by Geoffrey Cann, a Director at production was achieved at the turn of the of oil and gas. Shipments from the holder of Africa’s a day. Libya’s share of that was reported Deloitte specializing in the oil and gas industry, as a contender century. Setting up the Oil and Gas Authority biggest oil reserves last month jumped to as being about 1 million barrels a day. for blockchain technologies in the energy arena. While the oil price was high, in the first as the new regulator, based in Aberdeen, 1.19 million barrels a day, the highest since “The higher Libyan production goes, With the development of new energy sources such as shale half of this decade, oil companies approved was part of his plan. It was given powers to Bloomberg began tracking tankers from the more market participants will see that gas, tight oil, oil sands, and coal seam gas reaching a critical a series of major investment programs that require co-ordination by oil producers, and the country in July 2014, and 22 percent there is no cap for Libya and Nigeria,” said mass, it’s more important now than ever to rethink traditional gave the UK offshore sector a second wind. to ensure they did not close down assets up from January. Production jumped to Giovanni Staunovo, commodity analyst supply chains The new report suggests that spending prematurely. the highest in 4 1/2 years. at UBS Group AG. “The political situation Oil and gas is a global endeavor in which huge inventories are was greater than previously reported. It The authority’s report of projections of “There are always some issues, but if is still an issue so production is likely to held, ordered, transported, and distributed through multiple also shows operating cost per barrel of oil production also extends to expenditure. It you look at the term contracts being signed, stay wobbly.” channels all over the globe. When things go wrong, productivity produced has halved since 2014, at least in expects to see investment continue further Total coming back, the trend is for the PetroChina agreed an annual contract is slowed, production levels fall, and cargo is lost. This means US dollars, reaching just above $15. into the future than it had previously ex- return of more Libyan crude,” said Olivier to buy Libyan crude earlier this week, billions in profit is potentially taken off the table. Some of this spending was for developing pected, but that there will still be a decline. Jakob, an analyst at Petromatrix GmbH in the Chinese producer’s first such deal And with the development of new energy sources such as so-called brownfield sites, where fields were Capital expenditure has continued to Zug, Switzerland. “On the way, there will with Libya’s National Oil Corp. since shale gas, tight oil, oil sands, and coal seam gas reaching a critical mature and new technology was required fall significantly, and will continue to do always be some issues with protests, but 2013, according to people familiar with mass, it’s more important now than ever to rethink traditional to pump more from the rock formations. so, says the authority. the medium-term is that they will increase the matter. This followed BP and Shell supply chains. Most expenditure was in new fields, Operating costs rose marginally last their production level.” who both agreed similar annual deals in This is the path on which Petroteq has embarked. And with many of them to the west and east of Shet- year, but they are still 27% below the high The country’s observed exports jumped January. the help of blockchain technology, the company is positioning land. The last of that phase of new fields reached in 2014, when the high oil price from 969,000 barrels a day in January. Total on Friday completed a purchase itself as a leader in this race. is expected to come on stream in the next began its slide. February’s outflow would actually exceed of Marathon Corp.’s assets in Libya for Petrobloq, Petroteq’s very own blockchain consortium, is few months. Spending on decommissioning was up production for the month, which stood at $450 million. These include a stake in looking to reshape the industry. From drilling, to a finished pe- As a result, the industry’s production by 4% last year. Future annual spending a 1.05 million barrels a day, the highest the Waha Concessions, which recently troleum-based product and everywhere in between, Petrobloq total rose from 1.4m barrels of oil equivalent on breaking up and recycling platforms, since June 2013, according to a Bloomberg increased output to 300,000 barrels a day. aims to track, monitor, and account for every drop of petroleum per day to 1.63m barrels in 2016 - returning rigs and pipelines is expected to be lower survey. While it’s rare, an individual Still there are risks to the growth story on a transparent, immutable, and secure blockchain. to the level seen in 2011. than previously forecast. country’s shipments can sometimes briefly in Libya, said Luke Parker, a corporate The first member of the Petrobloq consortium is Latin America’s That rate was repeated in 2017, and Andy Samuel, chief executive of the rise above its output due to the timing analysis vice president at Wood Mackenzie. second largest energy company, PEMEX, which made headlines as would have been higher if the Forties Pipe- OGA, commented: “The extra 2.8 billion of when vessels leave, or if cargoes are “In recent times production has been the first petroleum company to allow cryptocurrency as a payment line Network had not been closed down barrels identified shows the future potential loaded from storage. constrained for prolonged periods due option in participating gas stations. In joining the consortium, in December because of a leak. of the basin which could be boosted fur- Further growth in Libyan oil supplies to shut-ins at export terminals,” he the company looks to soar to new heights. Production during 2018 is expected ther through investment and exploration would take the country to a level that could said. “Stability has improved, but the Utilizing Petroteq’s technology, Mexico’s national oil company to be higher than last year, but to start successes. test a pledge it made to the Organization lack of central government means the will become one of the world’s largest non-publicly traded compa- declining from 2020. “Last year, 2017, continued to be a pro- of Petroleum Exporting Countries to help risks of tribal disputes and labor strikes nies to introduce a blockchain-based supply chain management In 2014, having been commissioned ductive year and production levels are set limit a global crude glut. Alongside Nigeria, blockading critical infrastructure remain platform. An endeavor which is set to bring PEMEX’s processes by Whitehall, industry veteran Sir Ian to rise in 2018 as more new fields come the two African nations are meant to cap acute.” from production to sale to an entirely new level, ushering in a Wood produced a report which set out a on-line.” (Source: BBC) their combined output at 2.8 million barrels (Source: Bloomberg) new era of efficiency and profitability. (Source: theenergycollective.com) China pushes for bigger role in Iraq’s oil industry China is ramping up its role in Iraqi recon- associated with Iraq’s oil industry, which “Given the growing importance of China ra-Aqaba oil pipeline, where the China Pe- Trump administration struction, reflecting its growing reliance on has emerged as an increasingly important as an oil export market vis-a-vis traditional troleum Pipeline Bureau is slated to play a weighs plan to lower offshore oil from the war-ravaged country, but geo- export partner over the past decade. On the export destinations like the United States, construction role. political factors are also at play, according other, China will aim to garner geopolitical Baghdad will remain keen on deepening Yu Jie, head of China Foresight at the oil and gas royalty rates to a new report. influence by participating in broader recon- partnerships with Chinese companies as London School of Economics, told Arab News A paper compiled by consultancy BMI struction efforts in a country lying along a bilateral interests align,” BMI said. that “China is the world’s biggest importer of The Trump administration is considering an industry-backed Research, and released first to Arab News, key artery of its Belt and Road initiative.” The geopolitical research consultancy oil and the Middle East is a region for mar- recommendation to cut royalty rates for all leases in federal wa- said: “On the one hand, China will look to The burgeoning Iraq-China partnership added that China would also gain indirect ket access.” She flagged media reports that ters by one-third, a proposal aimed at boosting offshore oil and direct investment into infrastructure assets was said to be anchored by a dramatic in- exposure to Iraq’s infrastructure sector by Chinese state-owned oil company Sinopec natural gas production. crease in oil trade. Iraqi oil exports to China extending bilateral loans aimed at rebuilding could acquire a shareholding in Saudi Aramco Under the recommendation, unanimously approved by the rose from zero in 2007 to 270 million barrels Iraq’s economy. following the planned IPO later this year. Department of Interior›s Royalty Policy Committee on Wednes- annually by 2017, accounting for roughly In February, international donors pledged A recent report by the International day, rates for offshore oil and gas leases in U.S. waters would fall Vozara 8.8 percent of total Chinese oil imports. $30 billion to reconstruction efforts in Iraq, Energy Agency said that the Middle East, from 18.75 percent to 12.5 percent. China’s growing investment role in Iraq’s and while individual country contributions which accounts for about $200 billion worth This rate cut could boost interest in drilling U.S. waters, where oil sector was highlighted in January when have not been divulged, reports indicated of trade, makes the region China’s fourth interest has stagnated recently as output in onshore shale plays Street Iraq disclosed that it intended to construct an that China had been a key donor with bil- largest trading partner after the US, Japan has climbed to historic highs. Fully Furnished Flat oil refinery at the port of Fao on the Persian lions committed by Chinese state-controlled and South Korea. “As companies determine where to spend their limited capital Gulf with two Chinese companies. Iraq’s enterprises over recent years. That said, getting the funds needed to money for exploration, the 12.5 percent rate may be the tipping 90m2+2 bedrooms ministry of oil named the firms as Power BMI said China’s motives were also driven rebuild Iraq is no easy task. At the close of point for deciding whether to invest in U.S. waters,” Nicolette China and Nerco Chinese. The ministry said by its wider geopolitical ambitions. “Iraq an international donor conference in Kuwait Nye, a spokeswoman for the National Ocean Industries Associ- Tel: that the refinery would have a capacity of lies along a key route of the China-backed last month, Iraq secured only about a third ation, said Friday. 300,000 barrels per day. Similarly, Bagh- Belt and Road initiative, which seeks to fos- of the $100 billion that Iraq said the country Interior has offered a lower, 12.5 percent royalty rate for leas- dad has awarded a contract to China-based ter growing East-West overland trade by needed, and much of the money pledged es in depths of less than 200 meters in order to generate more 09120761263 Zhenhua Oil to further develop the East promoting greater logistical connectivity.” was in the form of investment loans (not interest in drilling in shallow waters. Baghdad oilfield. BMI also highlighted the planned Bas- direct aid). (Source: arabnews.com) (Source: Platts) ADVERTISEMENTS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL MARCH 4, 2018

In Europe, political parties Saudi Arabia faces ‘certain defeat’ would rather stay out of power By Anne Applebaum in Yemen, says Tory ex-minister “All political careers end in failure,” a British politician A former Conservative cabinet minister has once said: Sooner or later everybody gets voted out, said that Saudi Arabia faces “certain defeat” overthrown or forgotten. Even knowing that, four and humiliation in Yemen and has called on months ago nobody would have put Angela Merkel Theresa May to use the upcoming visit of on a list of world leaders most likely to be knifed in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the back. Back in September, the German chancellor pressure the kingdom to halt its bombard- was elected to a record-breaking fourth term. The ment of the country. formula she had relied on for years — project the In an interview with Middle East Eye, the image of a safe, frumpy housewife; take decisions former secretary for international develop- slowly and carefully, if at all — defeated all rivals ment Andrew Mitchell said it was now clear once again. Saudi Arabia would “not win a war from the But although her Christian Democratic Party won air” and warned that the “human misery more votes than any other, the result was still its and heartache” in Yemen would continue worst ever. Since then, Merkel’s first attempt to build unless UK and international pressure was a coalition with three smaller parties failed, after the used to force Saudi Arabia to return to the liberal Free Democrats dropped out. The second at- negotiating table. tempt — a “grand coalition” with the main opposition A Saudi-led coalition has conducted bomb- party, the center-left Social Democrats — is grinding ing missions in Yemen since 2015 with arms toward a conclusion, with zero enthusiasm and no and military support from the U.S., UK and applause. other countries. At least 10,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict, though the true death toll is potentially far higher as few organizations on the ground have the resources to count the dead. “Saudi Arabia will not win a war from the air and the certainty of its defeat is underlined by the small scale of the Saudi forces on the ground in Yemen,” Mitchell said. The visit by the powerful Saudi crown prince to London next month, during which he will meet senior royals and the prime minister, Theresa May, is set to highlight the UK’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia and Andrew Mitchell viewing the damage from Saudi-led coalition strikes in the old quarter of Saada in January 2017 its conduct in the three-year Yemen civil war. “We are supporting of bin Salman’s do- Former senior minister Andrew Mitchell says the UK must press mestic agenda, which is really significant Riyadh over Yemen bombardment ahead of bin Salman visit. and vital for Saudi Arabia’s future, but we would be failing in our duty as a candid friend being “even handed”. to find that Saudi-led forces had failed to civilian casualties, the strikes did not comply The scale of the collapse is notable: A few months and close ally if we didn’t spell out our very Mitchell said: “In the same way we con- adhere to “principles of international law of with international humanitarian law. ago, Merkel, master of the center ground, was lauded clear concerns over Saudi policy in Yemen,” demned the Houthi attack on Riyadh air- proportionality and precautions in attack”. “There is insufficient evidence to demon- as the last hope of the West. Now she is toxic: Nobody Mitchell said. port, we must not be afraid to condemn the It also describes measures taken to mini- strate that the factory complex had become wants to share power with her party. What happened? He added that ministers must take a firm nightly attacks on Yemen by the Saudi air mize child casualties by Saudi-led forces as a legitimate military objective or that the The answers don’t lie solely in Merkel’s contro- line with the crown prince over Yemen to force that have killed and maimed innocent “largely ineffective”, in comments that are Saudi Arabia-led coalition complied with versial refugee policy, though that argument is made steer him away from a “failed policy that has men, women and children.” likely to prove embarrassing to officials in IHL principles,” the report found. repeatedly. In fact, the unilateral and uncharacteristi- brought misery and heartache” to Yemen. He added that the UK must be “even Westminster who have defended Saudi Ara- Arms control experts say this is the first cally spontaneous decision she made in 2015 to open His comments come after shadow for- handed” and work towards the goal of ne- bia’s targeting process, and the continued example of UK weapons being so directly Germany’s borders to refugees from Syria, has been eign secretary Emily Thornberry demanded gotiations without conditions to end the sale of UK-made weapons. linked to alleged breaches of international quietly reversed. The numbers of people allowed to that May stops “bowing and scraping” to the conflict. Ending the crisis law by UN experts. enter have dropped dramatically, and last year were crown prince and halts the sale of weapons The British government insists it is Andrew Smith, the spokesman for Cam- Oliver Feeley-Sprague, Amnesty Inter- only a third of what they had been in 2016. to Saudi Arabia. pressing Saudi Arabia to boost the flow of paign Against Arms Trade, or CAAT, said national UK’s arms control director, told More to the point, this piece of history might help ’Innocent men, women and children’ humanitarian aid to Yemen, and is lobbying the Saudi-led bombing campaign has cre- MEE: “There have already been a series explain some of her lost electoral support, but it doesn’t Mitchell does not support an arms em- for a peaceful solution to the conflict, which ated one of the “worst humanitarian crises of cases in Yemen where UK weaponry - entirely explain why no one wants to govern with bargo and says Riyadh has legitimate self- has allowed militant groups, including al- in the world”. including cluster munitions - sold to the her. The situation is much weirder: It appears that defense concerns, but his intervention will Qaeda and Islamic State (ISIL), to flourish “Thousands of people have been killed Saudi Arabia-led coalition has been used in Germany, as almost everywhere else in Europe again put the focus on the UK’s increasingly in the chaos of war. and vital infrastructure has been destroyed in breach of international humanitarian at the moment, the way to build your party and gain close defense relationship with Saudi Arabia, The UN report found that all sides in the all across Yemen,” he said. law, but the UN report is a significant voters is not to hold power or to make decisions, but where bin Salman is driving a modernization Yemen conflict have committed violations “If Boris Johnson is serious about ending reminder to the UK government that its to attack those who do. Compromise and coalition, and reform project, known as Vision 2030, to of international humanitarian law, includ- the crisis, then he and his colleagues must stop reckless arming of the coalition is not once the heart and soul of Continental politics, are wean the kingdom off its dependence on oil. ing Saudi-led air strikes on civilian targets. arming and supporting the Saudi regime.” going unnoticed. losing their attraction. Besides, the public’s trust of The UK move will likely be welcomed The report lists 10 incidents in which Sau- In one case, the report’s authors found “The UK should cease supplying weapons everybody in government is at an all-time low — so in Riyadh, but has prompted allegations di-led coalition air strikes killed 157 civilians, evidence that UK-made Paveway IV bombs to all parties to this terrible conflict where much so that it seems better not to be in the govern- from Mitchell that the UK, which has li- including at least 85 children. The strikes were used in a series of strikes on an industrial there’s a risk those weapons could be used to ment at all. When Christian Lindner , the liberal party censed the export of more than $6.4bn targeted residential building, factories and complex in September 2016. carry out further human rights violations.” leader, dropped out of coalition talks with Merkel, of arms to Saudi Arabia since 2015, is not civilian vessels, prompting the UN experts The report found that while there were no (Source: Middle East Eye) he declared that it was “better not to govern than to govern in a wrong way.” He also seems to have calcu- lated that his party, which won more than 10 percent of the vote in September, will do even better next The two-state solution is still the only game in town time if it stays out. Even after Donald Trump’s Jerusalem decision, there is no feasible alternative to the two-state solution in Palestine Now the Social Democrats are facing the same di- lemma. With every passing week, as a decision on the By Arafat Shoukri On the Palestinian side, this idea has also not been taken coalition agreement draws closer, they lose ground in seriously or discussed properly among the current Palestinian the opinion polls. Like the liberals, the Social Demo- U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Decem- leadership or other prominent political factions. The PLO’s crats are afraid that if they join the government their ber 6 last year of his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the strategy since the 1960’s has been to establish an independ- voters might disappear altogether. Next this week the capital of Israel was a real shock not only for Palestinians ent state. Some Palestinian players, such as Hamas, do not party will announce results of members’ votes on the but also for the international community as a whole. even believe in a peace process in the first place. coalition deal, and may well be against it — in which For many people, this decision was the final nail in the On the European side, the EU has already invested huge case Merkel’s second attempt to form a government coffin for the two-state solution. But even before Trump’s amounts of money, time and energy to make the two-state will fail. But for some of the party’s members, even a controversial announcement, some western politicians were vision a reality and it is finding it very hard to change di- few ministries aren’t worth the price. Better to stay arguing that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian rection after all these efforts. Also, trying to implement a as far away from real power as possible. conflict is no longer feasible due to Israel’s expansionist democratic one-state solution would be hard for the EU, This strange truth has already given birth to strange policies in the West Bank. as Israel is strongly against this strategy. Many European politics in other countries. In the last British gen- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reacted to Trump’s states do not have the will or courage to have a full-blown eral election, all major political parties ran populist, Jerusalem decision with fury and went so far to say that the confrontation with Israel, a state they view as an indispensable “anti-elitist” campaigns. The Labour Party ran against Palestinians would no longer accept the United States as a ally in the Middle East. And let’s not forget that the EU is the Tory “establishment”; the Tories ran against the mediator in the peace process. Abbas also refused to meet with not a government, but a union, and it needs the consensus pro-European “establishment”; the Scottish National U.S. Vice President Mike Pence when he visited the region. of all its 28 member states to adopt a new foreign policy. The EU has already This necessity slows down the decision-making process in Party ran against the English “establishment.” It was The international community joined Abbas in condemn- ing Trump’s decision, with a resounding majority of United the EU and limits the union’s capabilities when significant as if nobody wanted to admit that their party actually invested huge amounts of Nations member states voting to declare the U.S. presi- policy shifts are needed. sought to wield power and become the establishment money, time and energy dent’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “null and The second alternative to the two-state solution is itself — which is, presumably, the only real reason void”. But in the end, neither Abbas nor other world leaders to make the two-state an Apartheid state. Although this strategy is already to enter politics at all. were successful in convincing Trump to reverse his decision. de-facto implemented in the West Bank and even in- In its way, the vic- vision a reality and it is After the storm of anger dissipated, the world came to side the state of Israel, no one is recognizing it as a real tory of Emmanuel It appears that its senses, and most leaders realized that no peace process finding it very hard to option to end the conflict and achieve peace between Macron in the last in Germany, in the Middle East could ever advance without the support change direction after all the two parties. It is morally and politically costly, and French presidential as almost and approval of the U.S. This was clearly put by European these efforts. would most certainly be strongly condemned by the election was evidence everywhere else Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini when she international community. of the same thing. said “Nothing without the United States, nothing with Thus, many people, who thought the Jerusalem deci- The final alternative to the two-state solution is to do Both he and his main in Europe at the the United States alone”. sion was the end of the two-state solution, now wonder why nothing. But, if the international community denounces the opponent, Marine Le moment, the way Despite attempts by the EU to change the current mecha- most stakeholders of the peace process still have hope for two-state solution without offering an alternative, a major Pen of the National to build your nism and create a negotiations framework that would in- this approach, despite its failure to bring about sustainable political vacuum, which would undoubtedly be filled with Front, made it into volve multilateral brokers, the Palestinians were disappointed peace decades after its conception. “extremist” non-state actors like the Islamic State of Iraq the final round of the party and gain to find out that this was nothing more than wishful think- The answer to this question is simple: It is unbearable and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), will material- election by attacking voters is not to ing - especially after senior Palestinian officials, who were and costly for all stakeholders - albeit for different reasons ize. Obviously, no one can afford this to happen. the traditional par- dispatched to Moscow, Beijing and several Arab capitals - to abandon this solution. Currently, there are only three All in all, the two-state solution is still the only game in ties of the center left hold power or to after the Jerusalem announcement to find new international alternatives to the two-state solution, formation of a single town. However, the rules of the game seem to be changing and center right, all make decisions, sponsors for negotiations, returned home empty-handed. This democratic state with a one-man-one-vote system, formation in Israel’s favor. Both Israel and the U.S. still theoretically of which suffered an but to attack meant that the role of the U.S. is and will be very central to of an Apartheid state like the one existed in South Africa in accept this solution, but they want to shape it in a way that unprecedented col- any peace process in the Middle East regardless of Palestin- the eighties, or abandonment of all state-building efforts, would benefit Israel and further victimize Palestinians. They lapse. Then he took those who do. ians’ perception of the U.S. as a dishonest broker. which would undoubtedly result in a political vacuum. have already laid the foundations for their version of the power — and his Palestinian Authority did not abandon the Obviously, the first option means the end of Israel as we two-state solution by taking Jerusalem off the table. They popular support immediately sank. Although more two-state solution know it. In this scenario, the demographics of Israel would will likely continue with abolishing the right of return for recently his support has once again begun to climb, Even though the Palestinian Authority (PA) said it would change drastically, with Palestinians becoming the majority Palestinian refugees, permanently condemning them to the numbers suggest that French voters liked the not accept U.S. mediation after Trump’s Jerusalem deci- in the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Bantustans in the West Bank. All this can be done under idea of Macron as a candidate, but disliked the idea sion, it did not renounce the two-state solution completely. Sea. There are around two million Palestinians in Israel and the umbrella of the two-state solution. of Macron in power. Instead, the Palestinian leadership tried to limit the damage the same number of Palestinians in both the West Bank and For Palestinians, there is no way out of the two-state solu- But then, voters nowadays dislike the idea of any- caused by the announcement and strengthen their position the Gaza Strip. Therefore, this option is vehemently rejected tion. What everyone needs to focus on now is not unlikely body in power. All political careers end in failure — but within the existing framework. The same tactic was adopted by Israel. Far from considering accepting Palestinians as alternative solutions, but the shape the two-state solution most of them now begin in failure, too. by other political parties involved in the peace process, such equal citizens, Israel’s far right-parties are currently working is going to take under Trump’s leadership. (Source: The Washington Post) as the EU. hard to drive them outside the borders of Israel. (Source: Al Jazeera) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MARCH 4, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7

The deadliest nation on earth Modern science is 1 When the Second Amendment as people starve to death. People say, «But compatible with Islamic right to keep and bear arms was written, it›s his money!» Oh, is it now? Did he snap repeating firearms did not exist, much less his fingers and manifest it out of thin air? principles: professor semiautomatic ones. No one could have No. But again, how does that statement deny foreseen the rapid advances firearms and what I said? Does «his» overrule «our» when even military weapons would make in a scant the difference is life and death? I can apply 100 years or so when the Gatling gun made the same argument to the AR-15 and United its appearance and heralded the dawn of States foreign policy. Does the «right» of one automatic weapons. People in the United man to own an AR-15 overrule the rights of States argue this point incessantly and as people gunned down by this weapon? Does they argue, mass shootings happens and the so-called «freedom» of the United States another 17 to 60 people die. But also, while overrule the rights of thousands in the Middle the United States argues the finer points East to remain alive? of «foreign policy», cruise missiles and When children snatch toys on the play- airstrikes are launched and thousands die. ground, say «They›re mine!», and refuse to 1 What is your opinion on religious humanities? Can it not be seen right here and right now share and let other kids play with them, the A: Actually, in the West, the very latest forms of anthropology that violence and the weapons that make it parents punish them for it. But when this and sociology are more open to the reality of values and moral possible have spiraled out of control here? same behavior is manifested in American truth-claims than in the late 1940s and 50s. While there are It has become far, far, too easy to kill peo- business and government, it is applauded those who will use cognitive science to seek to explain away the ple. For one thing, at the time the Second as wise. How can this be? You punish your evidential force of religious experience, the majority of cognitive Amendment was written, the ability to lay children for this behavior then reward them scientists working today are neutral about the truth or falsehood waste to entire cities did not exist. Cannons for it as adults? What does this, therefore, of religious claims. I suggest that the natural and social sciences of the era could shell cities but the difference horror and put away the weapons, you insure understand that if an individual right harms teach children once they enter adolescence today are largely tools that may be used to serve a variety of between 1700s era cannon and United States their use again. And again. the vast majority, it isn›t truly a human right. and become cognizant that what you do is philosophies and religious interpretations of the world. cruise missiles is as enormous as the differ- It was said in Ancient Greece: «Boys We›ve been sold the lie of individualism for not what you told them when they were little? Basically, is the epistemology of modern science in harmony ence between a crack in the sidewalk and throw stones at frogs in sport, but frogs die quite some time now. This is the reason why And I draw this comparison because kids just with Islamic principles? Is there conformity in their epistemology the Grand Canyon. The difference between in earnest.» In the United States, AR-15s are America thinks one man having over $100 got gunned down because of adults clutching or methodology? a Brown Bess musket and an AR-15 is the sold as rights, but children die in earnest. billion dollars is okay as millions starve world- AR-15s and saying, «They›re mine!» So, too, A: I believe modern science is compatible with Islamic princi- same comparison. If anyone claims these The United States launches airstrikes as wide. This is why America thinks cheap oil with these so-called rights that only work ples. The only problem in terms of epistemology and methodology are the same---and gun rights advocates foreign policy, but innocent civilians die in so they can drive cars with V8 racing engines for a handful of individuals over the entire is if one adopted what some today call scientism, the view that do---I dare them to fight a duel armed with earnest. No, I don›t see a difference between justifies killing thousands of people in the world as a whole. only science can provide reliable evidence for our beliefs about said Brown Bess musket against a trained dead children in the United States or the Middle East. America is stuck in a cult of Many Americans have grown far too com- reality. A great many of us in higher education today, scientists gunman with an AR-15. Middle East. Both are crimes of horrifying individualism and the entire world suffers fortable with selfishness and it has grown far and non-scientists, believe in a broader view of inquiry. We do For that matter, to those who say the regularity caused by the action of the United the harm of it. Individual rights to food, wa- beyond the mere consumerism that is bad well to recall that the sciences themselves rest on a philosophy, United States has some authority or right States government over there and the lack of ter, shelter, medical care, clothing, religious enough in and of itself in costs to the planet a philosophy of reason, inquiry, the nature of explanation, and to intervene in the Middle East, I dare them action by it here. Millions are dead and the belief, security, love, and well-being must be and the human family. Our selfishness is so on. As such, full inquiry requires philosophical reflection and to go live in a Middle Eastern city that sits in world is far from the perfection promised protected. But when an individual «right» killing thousands weekly. We don›t need not just a narrow appeal to empirical data and experimentation. the bulls-eye of American airstrikes. Let›s see by the United States government trying to outside of those parameters threatens the AR-15s. We don›t need V8 muscle cars and Opponents of the religious science believe that science is them assure themselves that because they›re justify all those deaths it inflicted. Hundreds rights of the individual I just mentioned, monster pickups the size of military vehicles. not a creative engineering plan but it has to be discovered. On the civilians, the airstrikes will miss them. Just are dead in the United States thanks to the we must address that quickly and without We don›t need to intervene in the Middle other hand, according to believers in religious science, (human) like the right of people to buy AR-15s won›t AR-15 rifle being a «right» and, yet, genu- haggling. No one has the right to harm an- East. We need to put down the selfishness science is manageable and we can design our policies for them, result in the deaths of kids in a school, right? ine human rights within the United States other or, by his or her actions, cause harm and confront the real terrorists on this planet. like what happened to modern science and its management in These things are linked. When you justify have drastically decreased, not increased. to befall another. See, that wasn›t ISIS that went and shot all the world. What is your opinion? or excuse killing for any reason, it becomes The only thing that increases in both cases There is another word for individualism those kids in Florida. That was just some A: There is a great variety of views to consider. At one end, that much easier to do it or overlook it next is the death toll. and that word is this: selfishness. It is nothing regular American. Who are the real terror- there are instrumentalists who think that science is not chiefly time. When you do not react with shock and For a future to be possible, we need to but selfishness to sit atop $100 billion dollars ists? You tell me. concerned with truths about reality, but with control and pre- diction. And then there are those who espouse scientism, as just described. I suggest that the natural and social sciences are, like almost all modes of human experience and inquiry, subject to Perils of UN Security Council resolutions when biased abuse and can be used to manipulate people. I believe that what TEHRAN (FNA) — The Security Council is the UN’s take “additional measures to address these violations,” and rights groups, the world body is still unable to take action is most needed today, culturally and personally, is a sense of most powerful body, the only one with the authority that “any activity related to the use of ballistic missiles in against countries that directly or indirectly support various humility and a higher regard for the good, freedom, and rights of to issue legally binding resolutions that can be backed Yemen” is a criteria for sanctions. Simply put, this is not a terrorist groups, like ISIL and Al-Qaeda, in the ongoing individual human persons. From such a perspective the scienc- up by sanctions, blue-helmeted peacekeepers or by proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia; they just want regime-change war against Syria? es can be used for human flourishing and the wellbeing of the force of arms. to blame Iran for everything that has gone wrong in their These perpetrators of horrific human rights violations are planet, but in the hands of more tyrannical forces, the sciences Problems, however, arise when the Security Council’s failed regime-change war against the poorest country in yet to be prosecuted by international tribunals. Perhaps, the can be used in the service of dehumanization and destruction. resolutions are politically-motivated, biased, or worse, based the Arab world. words of the Universal Declaration are not yet matched by Some critics of religious science believe that it will not on falsifications and lies. Consider the following: Nevertheless, under International Law and the UN Charter, facts on the ground. Perhaps, the US can use its veto power produce a definable result because of non-functionality, while A UK-drafted resolution aimed at pressuring Iran over Security Council resolutions are only meaningful if they are at the Security Council to deny the Syrians – or the Yemenis some others search for the main causes of this non-functional- alleged weapons supplies to Yemeni fighters has failed mis- not politically-motivated or based on lies. The ones that are - their human rights. But one thing is certain: ity. What are the sources for the verity of science in general and erably at the Security Council. On Monday, February 26, based on solid evidence and reports should be immediately As long as the structure of the Security Council remains religious science in particular? the resolution gained 11 favorable votes at the 15-member implemented and sustained though, particularly those that outdated - with just five permanent members that have A: As I suggested, I believe we need a robust affirmation of Security Council but was halted by Russia’s veto, because ensure the immediate, safe, unimpeded and sustained de- veto power – it will continue to be a venue for adopting the good, freedom, and rights of individual human persons, and as maintained by Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, livery of humanitarian aid and services, the evacuation of unfair, unjust, false, and self-serving resolutions by certain I should add, communities. When we talk about functions or “We cannot concur with uncorroborated conclusions and the critically sick and the wounded and the alleviation of permanent members. This in itself will only lead to further non-functionality, I suggest we will always have some framework evidence which requires verification and discussions within the suffering of the people at war. The UN did that earlier egregious abuses of the UN system, greater wars of aggres- in mind. If we define functionality in impersonal terms such as the sanctions committee.” this week by unanimously adopting a resolution on Syria. sion and deceit, and eroding respect for fundamental rights the projection of military power or the accumulation of material Interesting enough, it was the United States, Britain However, the UN has never been that quick when it comes across the globe. wealth, we may be functioning well but lose our souls. and France that had circulated the draft resolution that to the resolutions that it has adopted against Israel and its would renew sanctions on Yemen for another year and expansionist policies in occupied Palestine and throughout also “condemn” Iran for allegedly breaching the 2015 arms the region. embargo on the country by “failing to take the necessary Israel never paid the price for invading Lebanon in 2006. measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale The usurper regime is also never punished for stealing Pal- or transfer of short-range ballistic missiles, UAVs and estinian lands, building illegal settlement units on occupied other military equipment to Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah territories, and/or for murdering women and children, de- N.I.O.C National Iranian movement.” Both Tehran and Sana’a have repeatedly re- taining and torturing prisoners in Palestine. Second Announcement1396.5547 1396.5547 Drilling Company jected the allegations as a fabricated scenario, and said the Clearly, when it comes to the United States and its Sau- armed forces of Yemen have strengthened their missile di-Israeli allies, the United Nations and its Security Council Public Calls For Quality Evaluating Of Tender(First Publish/Seconed Publish)-Retender power on their own. are never ready to do their part. They cannot, or they never Lest we forget, the Western governments behind the res- bother to adhere to their absolute obligations and inter- Two-Stage(Semi-pressed) olution are in fact the ones directly supporting Saudi Arabia national humanitarian and human rights law to protect and its coalition militarily in the ongoing illegal war against civilians and civilian infrastructure in places like Yemen, TENDER

Yemen. Despite almost three years of bombing campaigns whose only crime is that it wants to determine its own fate GUARANTEE ESTIMATED Tenders Portal TENDER NO. / INDENT and blockade that have mostly targeted innocent civilians, independent of Saudi Arabia. Subject of Tender No VALUE (Rial) Reg. No. NO the US- and UK-backed regime changers have failed to defeat And similarly, efforts to combat those who support ter- Euro Rial the Ansarullah movement, let alone reinstall the country’s rorism in places like Syria are yet to be seen at the Security former Riyadh-friendly government. Little wonder, they are Council. This is not to deny that the UN doesn’t want to fight so desperate to call for unspecified measures in response to terrorism. The question is how come despite the evidence Tender No.:FP/05-96/059 1 Iran’s alleged role in Yemen, stressing that the UNSC will and the reports by international aid agencies and human 19,532,000,000 P/F “BLOHM+VOSS” 3.153.178 23/813 977/000/000 MANUAL TONG TYPE Indent No.: 08-22-9645047 BV-57 Brief discription of subject: Brief discription of subject: Pre- bid notice for assessment of potential bidders National National Iranian DrillingIranian Company(NIDC) Drilling Company(NIDC) address pasdaran address Blev., Airport pasdaran Saqare, Blev., Ahvaz, Airport Iran hereby Saqare, intends Ahvaz, to purchase its requirements Iran hereby intends to purchase its requirements from qualified and interested tenderers Kavand Nahan Zamin Co. (KNZ) intends to bid sale and/or investment in the Borley mine (located in from qualified and interested tenderers through two-stage public tender ( semi-pressed) uponfollowing terms and conditions: A) Qualitativethrough two evaluation-stage publicof tenderer: tender ( semi-pressed) upon following terms and conditions: Kazakhstan with reserve of 5.8 Mt oxide ore; mean grade of 0.35% Copper; and 194 Mt Sulfur ore; mean TheA) evaluation Qualitative is based evaluation on article ( ofJ ) tendererimplementing: regulations of the law of tenders and also carried out base on worksheets qualitative evaluation The inquiryevaluation in the istender based doucments. on article Minimum ( J ) implementing acceptable point regulations of quality is 60.of the law of tenders and grade of 0.37% copper). B) Preparation of tender documents: Purchasingalso carried of documents: out base on worksheets qualitative evaluation inquiry in the tender doucments. Bidders with mining or Copper processing background, and financialpotentials; are invited to announce In orderMinimum to receive acceptable the tender pointdocuments, of quality 510,000 is 60.Rials should be paid to SIBA account number 2174652205004 of NIDC in Bank Meli Iran and B) providing Preparation the original of tender deposit documents receipt. : their readiness in writing; within 15 days of this pre - bid notice; for purchase of the share in the company, Reciving Purch of documents:asing of documents: Tenderers In mustorder be to obtain receive the qualitythe tender evaluation documents, documents 510,000 along with Rials tender should documents be paid maximum to SIBA one accountweek after the date of second that owns Subsoil Usage Right of the Borly mine (as the first priority); and/or project implementation in publication in person at the following address: Hall No.:113, 1thfloor, Foreign number the forms of: BOT, BOO, BUY-BACK and submit following supporting documents to 1th floor, No. 49, Procurement Dept., National Iranian Drilling Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN Notice: 2174652205004 Only the real or legal of NIDC persons in who Bank apply Meli to Iranpurchase and andproviding recieve thetender original ducments deposit from foreignreceipt. procurment department in due Haghtalab Gharbi Street, Saadatabad, Tehran: date and Recivingparticipates of documents: in tenderwill be known as tenderer from tender committee. 1-Latest copy of company’s charter and registration documents (codes, or any other applicable referrals C) Delivery Tenderers of call quality must evaluating: be obtain the quality evaluation documents along with tender documents Tenderersmaximum shall submit one week the completed documents including qualificaion worksheets in form of software in CD and documentary within 14 in the country of registration) days from last day of document recived deadline to the following address: Hall No.:107, 1thfloor ,Tender Committee,th Building operations, National after Iranian the date Drilling of secondCompany, publication Airport square, in person Ahwaz, at IRAN. the following address: Hall No.:113, 1 floor, 2-A brief description of company’s financial capabilities and references D) TenderForeign Guarantee: 3- A brief description of company’s mining or copper processing background with global involvements Type Procurementof guarantee: Dept., National Iranian Drilling Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN A)Bank guarantees or guarantees issued by non-bank institutions that have activites licensed by the Central Others: Notice: Only the real or legal persons who apply to purchase and recieve tender ducments from Bankforeign of the Islamic procurment Republic department of Iran. in due date and participates in tenderwill be known as tenderer 1-Kavand Nahan Zamin owns 80% participatory interest in the company that owns Subsoil Usage Right of B) The original cash deposit receipt paid to National Iranain Drilling Company. Durationfrom of tender credit committee.guarantee: the Borly mine and 20% belongs to Kazakh partner. This duration C) Deli shouldvery be of valid call forquality 90 days evaluating and extendable: maximum For one time in initial credit amount. 2-Companies approved by KNZ in writing; will be invited to purchase bid Tenderers shall submit the completed documents including qualificaion worksheets in form of software in CD and documentary More on this &within other tenders14 days is fromaccessible last byday click of documenton. WWW.NIDC.IR recived deadline documents for a price of RLS 100,000,000; through account to be announced. to the following address: Hall No.:107, 1thfloor ,Tender Committee, Building operations, 3-Provisions of documents do not set any rights for applicants. Foreign Procurement Dept National Iranian Drilling Company, AirportNational square, Iranian Ahwaz, Drilling IRAN. Company D) Tender Guarantee: تهران تایمز : نوبت اول 12/12/96نوبت دومFor further information, please call +98 910 9923 270 from 8:00 AM to 18:00. 96/12/13 Type of guarantee: A)Bank guarantees or guarantees issued by non-bank institutions that have activites licensed by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. B) The original cash deposit receipt paid to National Iranain Drilling Company. Duration of credit guarantee: This duration should be valid for 90 days and extendable maximum For one time in initial credit amount. More on this & other tenders is accessible by click on. WWW.NIDC.IR

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 INTERNATIONAL MARCH 4, 2018 Guns, Churchill and electoral politics By Ralph Z. Hallow jacket. Why? To kill a school shooter before and the inevitable scams for hardening schools afterward, he said. portant it is for good citizens to be able to carry Winston Churchill was right. Democracy is he kills students, teachers, administrators, would run many times that. Not in my America, Mr. President, though I their weapons from states that favor concealed- the worst form of government except for all principals and janitors. For what? hugely respect what you’ve accomplished in office carry permits into states that, despite a Supreme the others. A homicidal maniac with a gun in a school won’t Since 1996, until the Douglas High shoot- and want to see all your agenda realized. Court ruling, make it virtually impossible for a President Trump, who could go down as one stand a chance if he doesn’t know who’s armed in ing, there had been just 14 school shootings I also want an armed citizenry to protect the citizen to get a permit. of our best presidents ever but has to work a the school and who isn’t. that have killed at last two people besides the Constitution and its freedoms, not to burn down A black female cop and white male cop came to bit harder at it, picked a 2020 campaign man- But no. Mr. Scott the candidate wants one paid gunman, according to a Northeastern Uni- the village in order to save it. my house years ago after an attempted break-in. ager on Tuesday. In virtually the next breath armed guard at every school. He wants metal doors versity study. Appealing to the left in America will not get you They asked whether I had a gun. “No,” I said. They he holds a White House gun-violence session and special windows and all kinds of things that Allowing firearm-trained school employees re-elected. And if it does, it’s not worth violating separately said this: The next time this happens, with lawmakers and manages to make eyes cross will do zero to stop a nonexistent school-shooting to volunteer to carry concealed handguns to the commitments on which you ran. Not for me. Mr. Hallow, we’re not going to be here. and eyebrows arch among tens of millions of epidemic. He wants things that will cost billions protect their schools is the only way to protect Not for you. Not for America. I thanked them, got a license, bought a gun staunch supporters. of dollars that already strapped school districts schools. In what appears to be an uncharacteristic lapse and have kept it at home ever since. The dizzying effect of electoral politics? can’t afford. And don’t need. Any homicidal shooter smart enough to load into re-election-itis, Mr. Trump spoke about adding I can’t carry my .38 revolver outside my home to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican Consider this: There are 50 million primary his gun will walk up to the school resource officer, to a broader gun bill another measure to ensure that protect me at gas-station stops in shady neighbor- running for the U.S. Senate, opposes Mr. and secondary school students in 90,000 in say “hi,” blow the guy’s head off and then freely if you have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in hoods because my state’s lawmakers insist only Trump’s smartest recommendation on school- elementary and 37,000 secondary schools in start mowing down unarmed, utterly defenseless your own state, you can do so in other states too. cops should carry weapons. gun killings. the U.S. students, teachers, administrators, principals and He said he’d oppose that, explaining that such Like my nation, my state is a representative Mr. Trump rightly wants every teacher, Inevitable scams janitors. interstate reciprocity would make the broader bill democracy that nonetheless keeps me from de- administrator, principal and janitor who has If you paid “armed resource officers” $40,000 a Yet Mr. Trump stepped on his school-safety unpassable. fending myself and others. the needed firearm-safety training to be able year, the bill would be over $5 billion every year, a brilliance by handing gun-controllers the keys to What? Mr. Churchill, your face-squinching observa- to carry a concealed pistol. Where? Strapped cost that would double once healthcare, retirement the gun-confiscation kingdom. Confiscate sus- Carrying weapons tion about democracy lives on. to an ankle or tucked under a blouse, shirt or and other benefits get folded in. Labor, materials picious guns first then worry about due process I am sure the president understands how im- (Source: The Washington Times)

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Tehraners to welcome New Year Healthy Eating: All about with tree planting quinoa

LIFETehran Mayor Moham- previously known as ‘Chenarestan’, which deskmad Ali Najafi has called literally means ‘plane tree field’. on Tehrani citizens to plant a tree while they “The Vali-e Asr Street, one of the longest are growing sabzeh for their Haft Seen. streets in the Middle East, was known for Iranians grow, wheat, barley, mung bean its 18,000 street plane trees. The number or lentil sprouts in a dish and put it on Haft of trees were decreased to 16,000 during Seen (an arrangement of seven symbolic items recent years and Tehran Municipality tries traditionally displayed at Noruz, Iranian cel- to save others by scientific studies,” Najafi ebration of the New Year, as a ritual done explained. since long time ago.) Mismanagement kills Tehran’s He made the remarks days before Iran’s trees National Tree Planting Day, which is annu- The main problem with plane trees on ally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the last Vali-e Asr Street is the absence of urban month on Iranian calendar month of Esfand, management to preserve them, Professor Most folks call quinoa (pronounced “keen-whah”) a grain, but which usually corresponds with March 5. in urban & environmental horticulture told it’s actually a seed — one that originated thousands of years ago This day is the first day of the Natural the Persian service of ISNA. in the Andes Mountains. Dubbed “the gold of the Incas,” it’s Resources Week, which is celebrated March He said that concrete and blacktop limit treasured because of its nutritive value (more protein than any 5 to 12. On this day, the saplings of the all the roots of trees. other grain or seed!). I love it for its yummy, nutty flavor. kinds in terms of different climates of different Skyscrapers and high buildings limited the Why you should try it parts of Iran would be planted by the people. light for photosynthesis of plants in the city Quinoa actually has more protein than any other grain or “Let’s plant a tree while growing Sabzeh and groundwater depletion by mismanage- seed and offers a complete protein, meaning it contains all the for Haft Seen and transplant it to your yard ment of water resources in Tehran makes essential amino acids our bodies can’t make on their own. It’s after Noruz Holiday,” he proposed. pality to preserve the urban vegetation and from March 2 to 20 from Bozorgmehr inter- the trees dries, he lamented. also a great source of calcium and is high in lysine, the B vitamins Tehrani citizens who don’t have yard to NGOs to support activities of municipality section to Taleqani intersection. May be thinking twice about planting trees and iron. Better still, the seed is easy to digest and gluten free. transplant the tree can transfer their plant to promote green areas in the city. The project was started on Friday with a and urban green spaces brings another chance The different kinds to 12 hectare greenbelt, which was estab- Plant trees to grace Vali-e Asr ceremony attended by Najafi. to Tehrani citizens to benefit from more trees You’ll usually find quinoa in its tan or yellow form — though lished by the Tehran Municipality and will Street again During the event, Najafi called tree as the in different parts of the metropolitan and it comes in many colors: orange, red, pink, purple and black. be inaugurated in coming days. Tehran Municipality began to plant 740 ‘God blessing’ and pointed to the important to enjoy from bird songs and clean air in Look for any color quinoa in your local health food stores; they He urged Terhani citizens to help munici- 15-year-old plane trees in Vali-e Asr Street role of trees in the city of Tehran, which was coming year. all work — and taste — great in dishes. I always stock up in bulk to keep costs down. Stored in an air-tight container in the fridge, quinoa keeps for several months. Respond to nosy people with grace How to cook quinoa It may seem foreign, but cooking quinoa is simple. First, We’ve all been asked rude questions that are no one else’s to pay my bills and have a little fun,” or “Not nearly enough to rinse the quinoa. It has a natural soapy coating that helps business. Although everyone slips up now and then, some nosy do everything I’d like to do. How about you?” protects the seed from pests but there’s no need to eat it. To people seem to have a knack for always sticking their foot in their How much did you pay for that house? clean, just place the quinoa in a strainer and rinse with cold mouth or making some social faux pas. You may answer the Here is another money question that doesn’t deserve an water for a minute or two. question and move on to another topic, but you don’t have to. answer. However, being the polite person you are, you might Next is the cooking. Use one part quinoa to two parts liquid. Take the high road answer with something like, “I paid the going market value Plain water works fine, but you can experiment with a vegeta- These people are often unaware that they’re exhibiting bad for houses in the neighborhood. It’s a very comfortable house ble or chicken broth for extra low-calorie flavoring. Place both etiquette, but even if they know what they’re doing, you should that felt like home the minute I walked in the door.” Quickly the quinoa and the liquid in a saucepan, and bring it to a boil. never stoop to getting back at them with bad manners. It’s up change the subject to let the person know you are finished Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and let the seeds cook for to you whether or not you want to give them an answer, ignore discussing house prices. 10 to 15 minutes — or until the water is absorbed, the seed is them, or ask why they need to know whatever it is. Your comeback Are you still single? translucent and the germ is partially detached (it will look like should be said with a smile and an even tone. If possible, use Many single men and women in their late twenties and early a little feather or spiral). as much poise as you can manage. humor to soften your response, and then change the subject. thirties have heard this one. It’s a question asked by a well- When cooked, quinoa has a crunchy, nutty flavor. It works If you have children, start early and teach them questions Be prepared meaning relative or close friend who wants you to be happy. great in savory side salads, mixed into veggie burgers and more. not to ask. Most kids are naturally inquisitive, so direct them For times that you find yourself in the awkward position However, hearing it over and over will make you anything Quinoa salad to the more appropriate conversation. of being interrogated by a rude person, you need to arm your- but happy. Servings: 8 How much money do you make? self with some answers that will let him or her know that you If you are still single, tell the person that you haven’t found Ingredients: This question about money is quite common, even though consider the questions rude. There are several ways to handle someone you want to spend your life with, but if you ever do, 4 cups cooked quinoa* (or whole-grain couscous if you can’t it is considered rude and nosy to ask. You have several options these people: with the answer they are looking for, with a quippy you’ll get the word out to everyone who needs to know. find quinoa) on how to deal with it. Your answer will be different if the per- comeback, or with a way of letting them know that you consider Have you gained (or lost) weight? 1/2 cup red onion, diced son asking is a coworker than if the question is coming from them boorish for asking such a question. If the person comes out and asks about your weight change, 1 cup bell peppers (use red, orange or yellow), chopped someone sitting next to you on an airplane. Set boundaries it is probably obvious, and chances are you have put on (or lost) 1 cup cucumber (leave skin on for green color), chopped The simplest answer is to say that you never discuss money Certain rude questions tend to come up more frequently a few pounds or more. When someone comes right out and 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved with anyone but your spouse. Most people will accept that, but than others. Before you walk out the door, make the decision makes this terribly insensitive remark, smile and say, “I’m feeling 1 cup black beans others who are extremely rude might press or insult you to get to maintain good manners and not be that nosy person. If you wonderful. How about you?” That should get the point across 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil their answer. Don’t fall for it. are on the receiving end, be prepared with answers that let the that you don’t want to honor the rude question with an answer. 1 tablespoon vinegar Another thing you might do is answer with a quippy, “Enough other person know what you think of his or her nosiness with (Source: thespruce.com) Juice of one lime (zest is optional) 1 teaspoon ground cumin 28 simple and natural ways to detox How to have a happier home in some 1/4 cup parsley (or cilantro), chopped Salt and pepper to taste your body simple steps? Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and serve. That’s it! (Source: foodnetwork.com)

Simple lifestyle changes that reduce risk of disease

#14. Learn to incorporate superfoods tuna, avocado, walnuts, almonds, olive oil Make the bed every morning. Make they have been drying for some time. into each meal: and flax Seeds. You can also turn to fruits it a habit to start your morning by accom- If you use something up, write it The great thing about superfoods is that and vegetables that are bright in color as that plishing this task. down on the shopping list.Save yourself they contain important nutrients and anti- means that their dark hue contains plenty of Piles of dirty clothes around from going without your needed supplies oxidants which our bodies need to fight off antioxidants. Options such as blueberries, the house create chaos before bedtime. and make sure it’s purchased on the next infections. The presence of these antioxidants raspberries, spinach, kale, eggplant, tomatoes, Get ready for bed an hour before you run to the grocery store. and nutrients in the body help to fight off carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, oranges and plan to go to sleep so that you have Dishes get washed after every meal, harmful toxins and substances that may butternut squash. Try to incorporate super the mental and physical energy to file or at least before bed. Make it a team effort compromise our immune system and our foods into every meal and enjoy how beneficial away clothes. so you can tackle the task together. overall health—so the inclusion of them in they are. They not only make for healthy and Wipe bathroom and kitchen surfaces Fill up what’s empty. Don’t leave our diets is critical. Superfoods are a deli- low fat food choices, but they also help you immediately. Hard, dried food particles a finished roll of cardboard next to the cious and nutritious group of foods including to boost your antioxidant intake. and old toothpaste chunks are not only toilet—change it out for a new one. foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids lik salmon, (Source: bembu.com) gross, but are also harder to clean after (Source: Real Simple) Even without expensive personalized services, you can reduce your risk of future illness with a few lifestyle tweaks. Here’s how to own your wellness. Manage your microbiome 101 ITEMS FOR “By and large, 50 percent (of disease risk) is due to our choices #IRANIANLIFESTYLE and 50 percent is due to our genetics,” says Dr. Pare. YOUR BUCKET LIST! Your body’s bacteria play an important and little-recognized role in the management of chronic diseases. Noshing on probiotic- #43. Further your education rich foods and limiting antibiotic use are some ways to start No matter how long ago you’ve graduated, learning improving yours. Don’t miss these silent signs your microbiome never ends. If you already have a diploma/degree, con- might be in trouble. sider getting a second diploma/degree in a different field. Get regular screenings Not only will it expand your knowledge and give you the Ensure you discuss age-appropriate screening tests with your competitive edge in the workplace, it’ll also be the perfect doctor—and be sure to mention any family history. From a Pap tool if you wish to transition to a different career. If you test to a colonoscopy, many medical tests can catch potential are eyeing for a promotion within the same career field, problems before they start. then a Master’s degree may be more relevant for you! Maintain a healthy weight If you are not sure on what further education to pur- Staying on top of your waistline helps reduce your risk of dia- sue, map out your ideal life first, then identify your ideal betes, heart disease and many types of cancer. Check in with your career. Pick the educational path that will assist you in doctor if you’re not sure what a healthy weight for your body is. your ideal career the most! Hit the gym Here we share 101 items to consider for your bucket Not only does exercise help you manage your weight, it’s also list. Look through the list — any item that resonates with beneficial for long-term disease prevention and your metabolism, you? Take the items that resonate with you and use them and it can substantially increase the length of your life. Plus, for your own list! Two women in Southern Khorasan Province sort saffron exercise is important for maintaining your mental health, which (Source: personalexcellence.co) (Instagram/@inspiredbypersia) is also key to improving your life expectancy. (Source: Reader’s Digest) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM MARCH 4, 2018

Weak media coverage Khorasan damaging Iran’s tourism sector: official Razavi hosts

TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism industry is suffering deskfrom “weak” media coverage for promoting the country’s realities, facilities and capacities in terms of traveling 1.7m foreign and historical heritage, a cultural official says. “Neither domestic media can make good in the field of tour- ism nor any other platform exists for promoting the country’s capacities,” Hamid Ziaeiparvar said on Thursday. tourists in 11 months TOURISM TEHRAN – Some 1.7 million foreign desknationals visited Khorasan Razavi prov- ince, northeast Iran, during the first 11 months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2017). A total of 28.5 million travelers and pilgrims arrived in the province during the period, IRNA quoted Abolfazl Mokarramifard, the provincial tourism chief, as saying on Wednesday. He explained that 31,527 people in the province are directly involved and 42,052 people are indirectly in- An undated photo shows people visiting the ruins of Persepolis, volved in the tourism industry. a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Iran. Mokarramifard added: “Each traveler can generate Though Iran’s tourism infrastructure, such as transport system one job opportunity directly so that tourism is considered and hospitality industry, does not meet global standards, the main as a key to tackle unemployment.” shortcoming is the lack of adequate marketing, he explained. Over 900 hotels, apartment hotels and guest houses Pilgrims visit the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam, in Mashhad, northeast Iran. Despite having a wide range of attractions, Iran only attracted are catering to travelers across the province, Mokar- shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam. concentration of water parks in the country, and it also five million foreign tourists in 2017, ranking 46th among top 50 ramifard added. Dozens of five-star hotels and hostels are dotted embraces variety of cultural and historical sites which popular countries, the official added. The province’s capital city, Mashhad, attracts thou- around the holy shrine. The city has also the highest are generally crowded. Ziaeiparvar is the director for media studies and planning at sands of pilgrims each day. The raison d’être is the holy the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Iran expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots, including 22 ones that have been placed on the UNESCO Intl. car rally to cross major Iranian cities World Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, it aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million TOURISM TEHRAN – An inter- “The vehicles will be shipped from in 2014 to 20 million in 2025. desknational car rally will Kandla port to Bandar Abbas in Iran. traverse Iran during its cross-country From there, we will resume the trip on expedition of 22,000 kms, connecting April 27 towards the north of Iran crossing India’s Bhilai to Russia’s St. Petersburg. the historically important cities of Shi- Iranian arrivals in The excursion will be flagged off on raz, Persepolis, Isfahan and Tehran,” said Azerbaijan seen slowing February 20 to celebrate 70 years of dip- Ramesh Mahapatra, the General Secretary lomatic ties between India and Russia, of KMSC. if taxes rise the Hindu reported. “From Iran, we will enter Azerbaijan and Some 20 cars comprising of 60-70 the city of Baku … while driving into Russia, TOURISM TEHRAN – Iranian tourist arrivals in participants from India, Iran, Azerbai- we will cross Volgograd, Moscow, Astrakhan, deskAzerbaijan is expected to face a slower pace jan and Russia will join the completion a city on the Caspian Sea and end the second this year if Iran levies sharp departure taxes. that is being organized by Kalinga Motor leg of the rally at Saint Petersburg.” The number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from Iran Sports Club. KMSC had previously organized oth- is growing every year, but unlike previous years, no growth The first leg of the rally will culminate er international motor rallies including is expected this year due to possible increase in taxes, Trend in Delhi on March 13 where a Russian India-Nepal and Bangladesh-Bhutan-In- quoted Chairman of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association ambassador will flag off the second part. A poster for India-Russia Friendship Motor Rally dia-Nepal. Nahid Bagirov as saying on Friday. Bagirov added that according to the information gathered from Iranian travel companies, the taxes will rise from March 20. “If this decision comes into force, there may be some Cape Town’s drought has shown us the future of travel problems with the arrival of tourists from Iran to Azerbaijan. By Ekhart Yoga its Is It Too Much To Ask? campaign, encouraging tourists Therefore, no increase is expected in the number of tourists to sign up to any of 10 pledges that encompass all elements from Iran this year,” Bagirov said. I’m staring at the murky, jaundiced toilet bowl. I reach for of environmentally friendly and responsible travel. Among Based on previous reports, the departure tax has been the flush but stop and pull my hand back. them was a three-minute limit on showers in water-scarce proposed to reach 2.2 million rials (about $52) from the “If it’s brown flush it down, if it’s yellow let it mellow.” destinations, a vow to offset the CO2 impact of a trip and current 750,000 rials (about $17), yet the fee will jump for Sorry to be crude, but that would be as much as 13 liters to demand to see the environmental credentials of any tour those who would make their second or third trips over a of water gone, a fifth of my daily allowance in a Cape Town operator before booking. Indeed, the ubiquity of plastic in one-year period. struggling to manage the precious resource during the city’s hotels featured in Telegraph Travel’s very own campaign Around 320,000 Iranians toured Azerbaijan in the first worst drought in living memory. to improve the way we travel. 10 months of 2017, an increase of 64 percent year on year, Only I’ve returned from the South African city and am “For decades, the travel and tourism sector has been IRNA reported. stood not on the southernmost tip of Africa but in my flat trying to make sustainable and responsible practices more Russian, Georgian, Iranian and Turkish tourists accounted in north-east London. mainstream,” the WTTC said. “It shouldn’t be called ‘sus- for the highest number of visits to the country. “This is the new normal in terms of responsible tourism tainable tourism’ as a niche, but rather just ‘tourism’.” and travel,” said South African Tourism’s UK head Tolene The need for such habits is not reserved to far-off sun- van der Merwe, of the guidance and restrictions put in place scorched lands, but includes popular, mainstream destinations. ROUND THE GLOBE on residents and visitors over the festive period, at a time Mexico City, Tokyo and Delhi are all among dozens of when the city was concerned it did not have enough water Cape Town is served by six major dams, the levels of which cities classed as water-stressed by the Nature Conservancy. Historic Monuments of to last its summer. are running low (Credit: AP/Bram Janssen) In Los Angeles, the most water-stressed city in the US, last Avoid flushing the toilet, no baths, keep showers to three attempted to comprehend what it was like to live somewhere winter ended a six year drought, during which the govern- Ancient Nara minutes (later cut to 30 seconds). Why not wash in the sea? where its presence was so fragile. ment instituted mandatory water restrictions. Tourists were asked to save water like a local, while locals Since returning home, I’ve become much more aware In Europe, too, the EU’s environmental agency, has iden- A World Heritage, the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara were to told to get “creative” in how they slashed their con- of the length of my showers, the water it takes to fill a bath, tified Cyprus, Bulgaria, Spain and Malta as countries at risk bear exceptional witness to the evolution of Japanese ar- sumption. and, yes, thought twice about flushing the toilet. of drought at current consumption rates. chitecture and art and vividly illustrate a critical period in Back from the Western Cape, it’s clear staying in Cape Town Although such diligent water management is not the Prior to travelling to Cape Town I struggled to believe the cultural and political development of Japan, when Nara at the height of the drought in January has left an indelible norm in the UK and nor so in the majority of places to which what I read about the city’s crisis, assuming that Day Zero functioned as its capital from 710 to 784. impression on my own water usage, at home and abroad. British holidaymakers travel, it is surely not too far off. could never happen in such a global city, such a key tourism During this period, the framework of national government When I was there, the city had as little as three month’s By now, we are familiar and comfortable with keeping destination. was consolidated and Nara enjoyed great prosperity, emerging left of water. Hotels removed plugs from baths, car hire towels off the floor in hotels so that they might be used again But having spent a fortnight, seeing the cracked, bone-dry as the fountainhead of Japanese culture. firms stopped washing their vehicles, restaurants refused the next day, saving water on laundry. And in the same way river beds, feeling the practical impact of water restrictions tap water. It felt like every drop mattered, and myself and the the national conscience on single-use plastic is changing, and imagining the hurt should the taps run dry, I appreciate friends I was with behaved thus. We kept showers to three our approach to sustainable travel is poised to undergo a environmental responsibility should no longer be a niche minutes, shamed anyone who did not, and, coming from a revamp, with Cape Town guiding the way. way to travel, but the norm. country where water is too often in unwelcome abundance, Last year, the World Travel and Tourism Council launched (Source: The Telegraph) Digital money has made it harder to tip the hotel housemaid Hotel cleaners lose out from app-based charging Last summer, Uber at last started allowing American Hotel and Lodging Association, its customers to tip their drivers. There was which represents hotel owners, recommends nothing actually preventing them from tipping tipping $1 to $5 per night. For a $200-a-night before. At the end of the ride a passenger could hotel stay, that’s the equivalent of taking a have pulled out his wallet, fished around for bag of M&Ms out of the minibar. A view of Todai-ji, a Buddhist temple associated with the change and handed the driver a few dollars. Hotel pay varies widely, but some house- Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, Japan But it would have seemed absurd to do so, keepers rely on tips for their livelihood. The Located in the modern city of Nara, the property includes when everything else about the transaction median housekeeper last year made $11.37 eight component parts composed of seventy-eight different was handled through a few taps of the app. The per hour, but in some cities it can be as low buildings covering 617.0 ha, which is surrounded by a buffer app didn’t enable tipping, so riders didn’t tip. as $10 an hour. An extra few dollars a day zone (1,962.5 ha) and the “historic environment harmoniza- All of this highlights the conundrum for in tips from a handful of additional guests tion area (539.0 ha)”. hotel housekeepers. Increasingly, people could represent a substantial boost to those The site of Heijo-kyo was carefully selected in accordance book hotel rooms through their computers earnings. After the Marriott chain started with Chinese geomantic principles. A grand city plan, based or phones. They pay, and often pre-pay, with leaving envelopes in 160,000 rooms for on Chinese examples such as Chang’an, was laid out, with their credit cards. They get around town with housekeeper tips, tipping seemed to have palaces, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, public buildings, app-based ride-hailing. There’s a good chance increased, according to the Times. But Mar- houses, and roads on an orthogonal grid. they don’t even carry cash. And yet to tip the riott ended the practice a few weeks later, The palace itself, located at the northern end of the central housekeeper—or the bellhop or concierge— finding it to be unpopular with guests, some avenue, occupied 120 ha. It comprised the official buildings there’s no option but cash. of whom felt pressured into tipping. where political and religious ceremonies took place, notably It is probably no coincidence, then, that A better solution would be to go the screens in restaurant and retail transactions. don’t get processed until the next paycheck the Daigokuden (imperial audience hall) and Chodo-in (state tips are tight for housekeepers. According Uber route. Upon checkout (or electronic For guests who pre-pay, they could even be and can sometimes get fees deducted. But halls), and the imperial residence (Dairi), together with various to the New York Times, fewer than one in checkout), guests could be asked if they’d asked in advance. everyone prefers a slower, smaller tip to no compounds for administrative and other purposes. three hotel guests in America now leave tips like to tip their housekeeper. This would be People in the service industry sometimes tip at all. And in our increasingly cash-free (Source: UNESCO) for the people who clean their rooms. It’s similar to what happens at the end of a ride prefer cash tips, since they can be claimed world, those are becoming the realistic options. not as if hotel guests can’t afford them. The on ride-hailing apps, or on receipts or tablet quickly and directly, whereas credit-card tips (Source: The Economist) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MARCH 4, 2018 SCI/MED 11 Recycled carbon fiber can improve How a little bit of anxiety permeable pavement, researchers find may improve memory Something as simple as running out to grab a coffee may of increasing concerns about flooding in ur- not be a memorable experience — but anxiety could change ban areas and requirements for controlling that. A new study suggests that people with higher anxiety stormwater run-off, several cities have tried levels might remember certain events better than people using the pervious concrete in parking lots with lower anxiety levels. and low-traffic streets. But because it is highly That’s because, researchers say, higher anxiety may make porous, it is not as durable as the traditional people more susceptible to negative feelings, putting them concrete that is used on major roads. in a more negative state of mind. That, in turn, may make Carbon-fiber composites certain events seem more memorable. Carbon-fiber composites, meanwhile, have Consider this scenario: If a person is having a bad day become increasingly popular in numerous and then goes to Starbucks, where the barista asks a neutral industries. Super light and strong, the ma- question, such as “Would you like milk in your coffee?” this terial is used in everything from airplane may be interpreted as something negative if someone is in wings to wind turbines and cars. While the a bad frame of mind. Later, an individual may remember market is growing about 10 percent per year, this trip for coffee as a negative experience because of this however, industries have not figured out a negative mindset, said co-study author Christopher Lee, a way to easily recycle their waste, which is doctoral candidate in psychology at the University of Wa- Dr. Somayeh Nassiri as much as 30 percent of the material used terloo in Canada. in production. and it still drains really quickly,” said Nassiri. In the study, the researchers started by giving 80 un- Led by Karl Englund, associate research In composite form dergraduate students an anxiety test. They found that the professor, and Somayeh Nassiri, assistant The researchers used inexpensive milling people who scored highly on that test — which measured professor in the Department of Civil and techniques instead of heat or chemicals to anxiety experienced in the two weeks prior — were more Environmental Engineering, the researchers create a reinforcing element from the waste susceptible to negative feelings than people with lower levels added carbon-fiber composite scrap that they carbon-fiber composites. They maintained of anxiety. The people in the study didn’t have a diagnosed received from Boeing manufacturing facili- and made use of the original strength of the anxiety disorder. A research team is solving a high-tech waste neering, doesn’t require using much energy ties to their pervious concrete mix. They used composites by keeping them in their cured Then, to test memory, the participants were shown a series problem while addressing the environmental or chemicals -- a critical factor for recycling mechanical milling to refine the composite composite form. Their mix also required using of neutral words, one at a time, overlaid onto either a photo challenge of stormwater run-off. The research- waste materials. pieces to the ideal sizes and shapes. The added a lot of the composite material, which would of a negative scene — meaning something that could affect ers have shown they can greatly strengthen Unlike the impermeable pavement that is material greatly increased both the durability be ideal for waste producers. their emotions, such as a car accident or a cemetery — or a permeable pavements by adding waste car- used for most roads and parking lots, pervious and strength of pervious concrete. “You’re already taking waste -- you can’t neutral scene, such as a lake or trees. bon-fiber composite material. Their recycling concrete allows rainwater to freely drain and “In terms of bending strength, we got really add a bunch of money to garbage and get a (Source: Live Science) method doesn’t require using much energy seep into the ground underneath. Because good results -- as high as traditional concrete, product,” said Englund. The “key is to min- or chemicals -- a critical factor for recycling imize the energy and to keep costs down.” waste materials. The researchers used inexpensive milling While they have shown the material works An Alzheimer’s drug to The researchers have shown they can greatly at the laboratory scale, the researchers are strengthen permeable pavements by adding techniques instead of heat or chemicals beginning to conduct real-world tests on pave- help teeth repair cavities waste carbon-fiber composite material. Their to create a reinforcing element from the ment applications. They are also working with recycling method, described in the March is- industry to begin developing a supply chain. naturally sue of the Journal of Materials in Civil Engi- waste carbon-fiber composites. (Source: Science Daily) Dental fillings may soon be left in the ash heap of history, thanks to a recent discovery about a drug called Tideglusib. Pecans, almonds, and walnuts may help improve colon cancer survival Developed for and trialed to treat Alzheimer’s disease, last year scientists found the drug also happens to promote Colon cancer patients who regularly eat nuts have been found grow on trees. the natural tooth regrowth mechanism in mice, allowing the to have lower risk of cancer recurrence. Colorectal cancer is the Earlier studies have shown that nuts may help reduce insulin tooth to repair cavities. third most common cancer in the United States. resistance. The condition can lead to unhealthy blood sugar In a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, levels and development of type 2 diabetes and other illnesses. Charles Fuchs, the director of Yale Cancer Center, and colleagues Colon cancer patients with lifestyle factors such as sedentary followed more than 800 stage III colon cancer patients after lifestyle, obesity, and a diet high in carbohydrates that increase their surgery and chemotherapy. insulin resistance and quickly elevate blood sugar levels are The researcher found that colon cancer patients who ate at known to have worse outcomes. least two 1-ounce servings of nuts per week showed 42 percent Eating nuts improvement in disease-free survival and 57 percent improve- “Behaviors that make you less insulin-resistant, includ- ment in overall survival. ing eating nuts, seem to improve outcomes in colon cancer,” Cancer recurrence Fuchs said. They also found that those who consumed nuts had signifi- It is not yet clear what it is about nuts that make them bene- cantly reduced odds for cancer recurrence and death compared ficial. Nonetheless, Fuchs suggested that nuts may help satiate with those who did not eat nuts. hunger even with less intake of food. “We assessed associations of nut intake with cancer re- The findings add to a growing number of benefits linked to currence and mortality,” the researchers wrote in their study. survival improved by 46 percent among nut consumers who nuts. A 2016 study showed that men who eat tree nuts at least Tideglusib works by stimulating stem cells in the pulp of “Diets with a higher consumption of nuts may be associated ate tree nuts instead of peanuts. five times a week have 34 percent reduced risk of dying from teeth, the source of new dentine. Dentine is the mineralized with a significantly reduced incidence of cancer recurrence Peanuts are botanically legumes but they are often con- prostate cancer. Another study showed that consuming nuts substance beneath tooth enamel that gets eaten away by and death in patients with stage III colon cancer.” sidered as nuts. They also grow underground while walnuts daily may lower risk of coronary heart diseases by 30 percent. tooth decay. Further analysis of the results showed that disease-free such as hazelnuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts, and almonds (Source: Tech Times) Teeth can naturally regenerate dentine without assis- tance, but only under certain circumstances. The pulp must be exposed through infection (such as decay) or trauma to Crowdsourced family tree yields new insights about humanity: new study prompt the manufacture of dentine. But even then, the tooth can only regrow a very thin layer Thanksgiving gatherings could get bigger alogists curious about their family histo- public profiles from Geni.com, one of the investigations possible. naturally - not enough to repair cavities caused by decay, --a lot bigger -- as science uncovers the ry, we crowdsourced an enormous family world’s largest collaborative genealogy “It’s an exciting moment for citizen which are generally deep. Tideglusib changes this outcome familial bonds that bind us. From millions tree and boom, came up with something websites, and used mathematical graph science,” said Melinda Mills, a demog- because it turns off the GSK-3 enzyme, which stops dentine of interconnected online genealogy pro- unique,” said the study’s senior author, theory to clean and organize the data. rapher at University of Oxford who was from forming. files, researchers have amassed the largest, Yaniv Erlich, a computer scientist at What emerged among other smaller not involved in the study “It demonstrates In the 2017 research, the team inserted small, biodegradable scientifically-vetted family tree to date, Columbia University and Chief Science family trees was a single tree of 13 million how millions of regular people in the form sponges made of collagen soaked in Tideglusib into cavities. which at 13 million people, is slightly bigger Officer at MyHeritage, a genealogy and people spanning an average of 11 genera- of genealogy enthusiasts can make a dif- The sponges triggered dentine growth and within six weeks, than a nation the size of Cuba or Belgium. DNA testing company that owns Geni. tions. Theoretically, they’d need to go back ference to science. Power to the people!” the damage was repaired. Published in the journal Science, the new com, the platform that hosts the data used another 65 generations to converge on one The dataset details when and where each The collagen structure of the sponges melted away, leaving dataset offers fresh insights into the last in the study. “We hope that this dataset common ancestor and complete the tree. individual was born and died, and mirrors only the intact tooth. 500 years of marriage and migration in can be useful to scientists researching a Still, the dataset represents a milestone the demographics of Geni.com individuals, Thus far, the procedure has only been used in mouse teeth. Europe and North America, and the role range of other topics.” by moving family-history searches from with 85 percent of profiles originating Yet as King’s College London Dental Institute Professor of genes in longevity. newspaper obituaries and church archives from Europe and North America. Public profiles and lead author Paul Sharpe told The Telegraph at the time, “Through the hard work of many gene- into the digital era, making population-level (Source: eurekalert.org) The researchers downloaded 86 million “Using a drug that has already been tested in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease provides a real opportunity to get this dental treatment quickly into clinics.” Bank Pasargad Awarded with FFI Entrepreneurship Badge (Source: sciencealert.com) Chief Executive of Bank Pasargad of the Islamic the bank. Republic of Iran was awarded by the French Federation It should be noted that managerial stability, creative of Intellectuals with the Entrepreneurship Badge of and innovative approach in management, initiating and Honor, the Public Relations Dept. of the bank reported. presenting new economic and employment strategies Could this bold new Given the above issue, the Badge of Entrepreneurship are of salient characteristics and distinctive features of French National Federation of Intellectuals, which is of the bank, he said, adding, “up to the present time, technique boost regarded as the highest honorary badge, was awarded Bank Pasargad has been awarded Badge of Merit and gravitational-wave detection? to Dr. Majid Ghasemi CEO of Bank Pasargad, the report EU Grand Officer Innovative Management Trophy as added. well as International Badge of Banking Industry Knight Gravitational waves that we can detect here on Earth are After evaluating measures in an expert-level by the European Research and Innovation Center.” generated by the most energetic events in the cosmos, from committee in the field of innovative management It is worth mentioning that Iran Banking Industry’s colliding black holes to merging neutron stars. related to the financial and banking technologies, the Eternal Figure was awarded to Dr. Majid Ghasemi Chief To spot these space-time ripples, which have traveled bil- Badge of Entrepreneurship and Honorary Certificate Executive of Bank Pasargad, the Public Relations Dept. lions of light-years in some cases, scientists must build some of Management was awarded to the senior official of of the bank concluded. of the most sensitive equipment the world has ever seen. But the very sensitivity of this gear means that vibrations, turbu- lence and even gas molecules in our atmosphere can drown out even the most powerful gravitational-wave signals in a Gilan Reg. Power Co. Wins 1st Rank in Protective Sys. crescendo of background noise. Ingenious engineering solutions are therefore needed to Gilan Regional Power Company (P.J.S) among other regional power companies of protection system, he opined. pull the weak signal of gravitational waves out of the noise. ranked first in the accurate performance in the country in the same period.” Given the development of network and In new research published in the journal Physical Review index of protective system, the Public Turning to the performance and function important role of system in protecting the Letters, physicists describe a potentially powerful new method Relations Dept. of Gilan Regional Power of the Department to Supervise and Monitor safe operation of power network, the bal- that could, theoretically, be used to remove a key component Company maintained. Instrumentation, he said, “this success has anced development of network’s perfor- of noise from gravitational-wave detectors and, in doing so, With due observance to the said issue, been achieved at the unsparing support of mance indicators requires the attention remove the requirement of having to build costly and complex Gilan Province Regional Power Company senior management of organization and co- and strengthening instrumentation and vacuum chambers. stood at the first rank in the accurate perfor- operation of different technical and logistics protection units throughout the country, Gravitational waves that we can detect here on Earth are mance index of protective system with 32.94 units and also accurate planning made by the report added. generated by the most energetic events in the cosmos, from percent on average in the first six months of expert engineers.” It should be noted that protective sys- colliding black holes to merging neutron stars. the 5th Five-Year Socioeconomic and Cul- It is obvious that various stages of de- tems will prevent spread of problem to other To spot these space-time ripples, which have traveled bil- tural Development Plan (from 2013 to 2017). signing and commissioning substations parts of the network with sidelining parts lions of light-years in some cases, scientists must build some Eng. Hassan Qanbarzadeh Manager precisely, repairing, maintaining and op- and equipment which have faced with faults of the most sensitive equipment the world has ever seen. But of Department to Supervise and Monitor erating probable incidents accurately for and defects, he said, adding, “the correct the very sensitivity of this gear means that vibrations, turbu- Instrumentation and said, “according to a preventing their repetition and accountable performance of protective systems will re- lence and even gas molecules in our atmosphere can drown report on the events at power transmission performance of contractors in repair and duce unwanted power outages and improve out even the most powerful gravitational-wave signals in a grid of the country, Gilan Regional Power maintenance services, etc. are taken into performance and maintain stability of power crescendo of background noise. Company managed to win the first rank consideration in the accurate performance transmission networks.” (Source: space.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY MARCH 4, 2018

Iranian celebs named New Year pet trade pushing Kaiser’s ambassadors of rare diseases foundation mountain newt toward extinction ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The up- Zagros Mountains of Iran with a circumscribed SOCIETY TEHRAN — The Rare Diseases Foundation of desk desk ward and disturbing distribution area in the Lorestan and Khuz- Iran chose some well-known national athletes trend of trading Kaiser’s mountain newt estan provinces is western and southwestern and artists as the ambassadors of rare diseases to raise public (Neurergus kaiseri), specially as the Iranian Iran. This species was believed to be relatively awareness about the least prevalent illnesses. New Year is getting closer, is driving the rare. When it was last assessed in 2008, it was Honored athletes such as Ali Daie, Hamid Sourian and Behdad precious species to extinction. thought that a dramatic decline has taken Salimi and also some distinguished singers and actors including Also known as Lorestan mountain newt, the place between 1998 and 2008, when the Khashayar Etemadi and Bahareh Afshari were among the chosen animal is listed as vulnerable by International population was estimated to number few- ambassadors, Khabaronline reported. Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). er than 1,000 mature individuals. Red List Its population is considered to be severely reported that the population has dropped fragmented, and there is a continuing decline by 80 percent in less than a decade due to in the extent and quality of its habitat, as the collection for the pet trade. well as a decline in the number of mature Kaiser’s mountain newt lives in water, individuals due to overharvesting for the in springs, streams, water troughs and wa- illegal pet trade. terfalls. It does not leave the water for long. Over the past few years, with the Iranian The streams are mostly surrounded by open New Year holidays approaching, some patches of woodland with rock outcrops. harvest and trade the rare species illegally The major threat to this species is un- as pets and many other would purchase it controlled overharvesting for the national to use it for ornament for their Haft Seen and international pet trade. Every spring an (an arrangement seven items on the table unknown number of this species is harvest- which start with ‘S’ in Persian language ed for national trade. Habitat degradation as well as gold fish, colorful eggs, candle Over the past few years, with the Iranian and destruction present the other major and mirror). threat caused by deforestation, utilization Additionally some have even replaced the New Year holidays approaching, some of habitats for livestock, dam construction This was part of the 9th International Conference on the gold fish with Lorestan newt, while the animal harvest and trade the rare species and water abstraction for domestic and Occasion of Rare Diseases Day, held in Tehran on Wednesday. cannot be kept in captivity and would soon illegally as pets and many other would agricultural uses, introduced fish species, Established in 2008, the Rare Diseases Foundation of Iran is a die. There is no exact, official estimate for the the use of some habitats for recreational non-profit institution which aims to improve the living conditions number of Lorestan newt pet trade, however, purchase it to use it for ornament for purpose and mountaineering, eco-tourism, of patients suffering from various rare diseases. it seems to be one of the main reasons for their Haft Seen while the animal cannot disturbance and pollution. All sites are more The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a provoking the species to be threatened with extinction. be kept in captivity and would soon die. or less threatened by drought. statement for ‘Rare Disease Day’ on Wednesday which states: Just recently, head of Tehran’s Depart- The stunning, marvelous species are native The vision of the Sustainable Development Goals is a world in which ment of Environment Mohammad Hossein to take action to prevent the illegal trade According to the Red List provided by to small parts of Iran and losing them would no one is left behind, including people who suffer from rare diseases. Bazgir has called on law enforcement bodies of Kaiser’s mountain newt. IUCN, the species is endemic to the central cause their global extinction. Just because a disease affects a small number of people does not make it irrelevant or less important than diseases that affect millions. Rare diseases present fundamentally different challenges from those of more common diseases, especially for diagnosis. Electric buses may hit Iran’s Fajr Fashion and Clothing Festival intl. The small number of patients, the logistics involved in reaching metropolises section opens in Tehran widely dispersed patients, the lack of validated biomarkers and surrogate end-points, and the lack of clinical expertise and expert centers all present significant barriers.

Tehran’s green startup weekend announces winners

ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Winners of the first ‘environment deskand urban management’ startup weekend were announced on Friday. Organized by Tehran Municipality, the three-day event was held in Shahid Beheshti University. Twelve teams put forward their startup ideas in topics related The first electric bus in southern city of Shiraz, June 2017 to environment and urban management such as traffic manage- ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Special threatening impacts, air pollution has some SOCIETY TEHRAN — The in- Motivating the designers to enter world desk ment, air pollution and waste management. researches will be con- negative social and economic consequenc- deskternational section of the markets, bridging the gap between the fash- According to the official website of Tehran Municipality, ducted to determine the feasibility and es which become visible gradually, Mehr 7th Fajr International Fashion and Clothing ion designers active in the field worldwide the idea of turning waste into decorative material won the first efficiency of using electric buses in Iran’s quoted him as saying on Friday. Festival opened in Tehran on Saturday. along with recognizing the capacities in place. The second praised idea was a mobile application which metropolitan areas. Referring to the major share of transpor- The opening ceremony was marked Islamic clothing and fashion are of the educates how to grow plants and facilitate plants buying and Isfahan City Council has been tasked tation in air pollution, Hashemi called for with officials as well as fashion designers purposes of the international event. selling. And the third rank went to the idea of selling fruits and with conducting studies, said Tehran City adopting policies and plans which would and those active in the fashion industry The Fajr festivals, are held annually in vegetables online. Council Chairman Mohsen Hashemi who concentrate essentially on decreasing the need worldwide in attendance. different fields including cinema, theater is also the head of metropolises council’s for trip (through e-government services) and Two workshops on fashion and clothing and visual arts. The 7th Fajr International public transportation workgroup. then, guiding citizens to take their trips by thought by faculties at French and Italian uni- Fashion and Clothing Festival runs from LEARN ENGLISH Besides its environmental and health public transportation, bicycle and walking. versities are of the spotlights of the 2-day event. February 25 to March 4. Solving a Mystery

Jane: You have to watch this movie. It’s so good! Pollutionwatch: Hercule: I’m not really into mysteries. Jane: But this is a really good whodunit. wood burning is Hercule: I prefer action movies. N.I.O.C National Iranian Jane: Listen, the movie gives you plenty of clues, and the detec- 1396.56331396.5633 Drilling Company tive follows hunch after hunch, lead after lead, but the movie not climate friendly Second Announcement is full of red herrings. Everybody seems to have an alibi and Public Call Of Tender the witnesses aren’t reliable. Hercule: I don’t know. It seems kind of confusing to me. I don’t One-Stage really want to use my brain when I’m watching a movie. Jane: But that’s the fun part of it. The true identity of the victim is TENDER GUARANTEE ESTIMATED Tenders Portal TENDER NO. / INDENT a mystery, the suspects all have skeletons in their closets, Subject of Tender No VALUE (Rial) Reg. No. NO and the detective isn’t what he seems. Euro Rial Hercule: Yeah, well... Jane: And just when you think you’re getting to the bottom 2,604 120,000,000 P/F “MALBRANQUE” of it, the rug gets pulled out from under you. It keeps 2,229,945,600 SAFETY GATE VALVE 3,154,087 you guessing until the very end. Hey, where are you going? Tender No.:FP/20-96/039 1 Hercule: I’m going to find an action movie where all my brain Indent No.: 08-22-9645019 has to do is handle the sensory overload! Key vocabulary Brief discriptionBrief discription of subject: of subject: mystery: an event, situation etc. that people do not understand National IranianNational Drilling Iranian Company(NIDC) Drilling Company(NIDC) address pasdaran Blev., address Airport pasdaran Saqare, Ahvaz, Blev., Iran Airporthereby intends Saqare, to purchase Ahvaz, its requirementsIran or cannot explain because they do not know enough about it from qualifiedhereby and intends interested to tendererspurchase through its requirements one-stage public from tender qualified upon following and interestedterms and conditions: tenderers through one- whodunit: a book, film etc. about a murder case, in which you A) Competence of tenderers: stage public tender upon following terms and conditions: do not find out who killed the person until the end The tenderers should not have legal restrictive to participation govermental to tenders , also they should provide statute or business license clue: an object or piece of information that helps someone solve With snow on the ground, many people will related toA) subject Competence of the tender. of tenderers: a crime or mystery have been huddling around a wood fire, but B) Preparation The tenderersof tender documents: should not have legal restrictive to participation govermental to tenders , also they detective: a police officer whose job is to discover information researchers are questioning if wood burning Purchasingshould of documents: provide statute or business license related to subject of the tender. about crimes and catch criminals is really climate neutral. Burning wood is not In order toB) receive Preparation the tender of documents, tender documents 510,000 Rials: should be paid to SIBA account number 2174652205004 of NIDC in Bank Meli hunch: if you have a hunch that something is true or will happen, CO2 free; it releases carbon, stored over the Iran and providingPurchasing the originalof documents: deposit receipt. you feel that it is true or will happen; guess previous decades, in one quick burst. For an Reciving of Indocuments: order to receive the tender documents, 510,000 Rials should be paid to SIBA account equal amount of heat or electricity, it releases Tenderers must be obtain the tender documents maximum ten days after the date of second publication till 17-April-2018. in person at the lead: a piece of information that may help you to solve a crime number more CO2 than burning gas, oil and even following address: Hall No.:113, 1thfloor, Foreign Procurement Dept., National Iranian Drilling Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN or mystery; clue coal, so straight away we have more CO2 in Notice: Only 2174652205004 the real or legal persons of NIDC who in apply Bank to Meli purchase Iran and and recieve providing tender theducments origi fromnal deposit foreign procurmentreceipt. department in due red herring: a fact or idea that is not important but is introduced date andReciving participates of in documents: tenderwill be known as tenderer from tender committee. to take your attention away from the points that are important the air from burning wood. This should be reabsorbed as trees regrow. For logs from C) DeliveryTenderers of bids envelopes: must be obtain the tender documents maximum ten days after the date of second alibi: something that proves that someone was not where a crime Tenderers shall submit simultaneuosly envelopes of bids including (A) Tender bank guarantee, (B) stampedth and signed of tender mature Canadian woodland, it could take publication till 17-April-2018. in person at the following address: Hall No.:113, 1 floor, Foreign happened and therefore could not have done it ducuments, (C) The priced signed and stamped of the same Technical-Commercial sheets muximum till 14March2018 to the following Procurement Dept., National Iranian Drilling Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN witness: someone who sees a crime or an accident and can more than 100 years before the atmospheric address: Hall No.:107, 1thfloor ,Tender Committee, Building operations, National Iranian Drilling Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, CO2 is less than the alternative scenario of Notice: Only the real or legal persons who apply to purchase and recieve tender ducments from foreign procurment describe what happened IRAN. department in due date and participates in tenderwill be known as tenderer from tender committee. victim: someone who has been attacked, robbed, or murdered burning a fossil fuel and leaving the trees Notice: The deadline for the refusal of bidders participation in the the tender is the last day of determined for submission of bids. C) Delivery of bids envelopes: suspect: someone who is thought to be guilty of a crime in the forest. D) The envelopes will be opened at 9:00 On 18-April-2018 Tenderers shall submit simultaneuosly envelopes of bids including (A) Tender bank guarantee, (B) a skeleton in one’s closet: an embarrassing or unpleasant This matters to prevent climate tipping E) Tender Guarantee: secret about something that happened to you in the past points such as an ice-free Arctic or shifting Type of stampedguarantee: and signed of tender ducuments, (C) The priced signed and stamped of the get to the bottom of something: to find out the cause of a monsoon patterns before the wider decarboni- A)Bank sameguarantees Technical or guarantees-Commercial issued by shenon-bankets institutionsmuximum that till have 14March2018 activites licensed to bythe the Centralfollowing address: Hall Bank of the Islamic Republicth of Iran. problem or situation sation can take place following the trajectories No.:107, 1 floor ,Tender Committee, Building operations, National Iranian Drilling Company, of the Paris and Kyoto agreements. Critics B) The originalAirport cash square, deposit Ahwaz, receipt paidIRAN. to National Iranain Drilling Company. rug gets pulled out from under someone: to suddenly Duration of credit guarantee & quotation: of this view say that the trees would never take away something that someone was depending on to achieve This duration Notice: should beThe valid deadline for 90 days for andthe extendable refusal ofmaximum bidders For participation one time in initial in th credite the amount. tender is the last day of what they wanted have been left to grow, but would instead determined for submission of bids. have been chopped down for wood or paper. keep someone guessing: make someone continue guessing D) The envelopes will More be opened on this & at other 9:00 tenders On 18 is -accessibleApril-2018 by click on. WWW.NIDC.IR It seems that wood burning is not climate about something E) Tender Guarantee: neutral in the short term and requires an Foreign Procurement Dept sensory overload: a condition of receiving too much informa- Type of guarantee: increase in forested area to be climate neutral National Iranian Drilling Company tion or stimulation via visual or audio sources; overstimulation A)Bank guarantees or guarantees issued by non-bank institutions that have activites licensed by the Central in the longer term. of one or more senses تهران تایمز : نوبت اول 12/12/96نوبت دوم.Source: The Guardian) Bank of the Islamic Republic96/12/13 of Iran) (Source: eslpod.com) B) The original cash deposit receipt paid to National Iranain Drilling Company. Duration of credit guarantee & quotation: This duration should be valid for 90 days and extendable maximum For one time in initial credit amount. More on this & other tenders is accessible by click on. WWW.NIDC.IR I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MARCH 4, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 New faces and old hands battle it out Big freeze grips UK

By staff & agencies in Italy’s election Britain’s military was deployed to central and western England With Sunday’s Italian election potentially resigned the premiership in December 2016. to help get hospital employees to work and to assist police in giving birth to a deeply divided parliament, A chastised-looking Renzi was an unu- rescuing people from snowbound vehicles as unusually cold here is a look at some of the key players in sual sight. But his humility was short-lived. weather gripped Europe. what could be a long and laborious process Brash and sharp-tongued, Renzi battled to form Italy’s next government. to retain his grip on the Democrats, which, He may be only 31, but Luigi Di Maio has since 2013, have been the main partner in his eyes set on becoming the populist 5-Star the coalition government. But old rancor Movement’s first premier. combined with his drive to steer the party The son of a local official of a now defunct to the center cost him dearly. neo-fascist party, Di Maio ran unsuccessfully More left-leaning factions in the party, in 2010 for the city council in Pomigliano especially former Communists, bolted and d’Arco, his hometown near Naples. Since formed a new grouping and refused to ally his election to Parliament in 2013, he has with the Democrats in the election. served as vice president of the lower Chamber Recent opinion polls are indicating that of Deputies. the Democrats have steadily lost support, His pre-political resume is skimpy, too. He with some previous voters opting for the says that before being consumed by politics, populist-5-Stars, or even Berlusconi’s center- he was launching a web marketing start- right party. up - “I’ll go back to it,” he insists. He has A Roman from a noble family, Paolo Gen- also served as a steward in Naples’ stadium tiloni, 63, cut his political teeth at a classics The big freeze caused travel chaos throughout the country “welcoming the VIPs.” high school considered the choice of Rome’s with hundreds of flights cancelled at Heathrow Airport, Europe’s He always seems to be smiling - even when bourgeois class, assuming the role of as a largest air hub. Trains broke down, stranding some passengers in listening to speeches about dismal events. leader of left-wing students during Italy’s frosty conditions for hours. “This is particularly unusual weather,” Unlike his facial expression, his stance Chipping away at his fortune have been me- In Europe, he has cozied up publicly with hot years of youthful dissent. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said. “It’s something that on issues shifts. He has backed seeking a ref- ga-sized legal fees to a stable of lawyers de- France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Turning to journalism, he wrote for, happens very rarely in this country.” erendum on Italy’s use of the euro currency, fending him. Also denting are the big alimony has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. among others, a magazine headed by one Several deaths have been attributed to the late-winter Si- but has since hedged his bets, saying a vote awards to his second wife, a former actress In a bid to broaden the party’s base, Sal- of the founders of the communist daily Il berian cold snap that stretched across Europe. The fatalities might not be needed as he doesn’t expect who sought divorce following revelations of vini has rebranded the party by dropping Manifesto and later became director of an include a man in his 60s who was pronounced dead after being the currency to last. his “bunga-bunga” parties and dalliances “Northern” from its title, which was central ecology magazine. pulled from a frozen lake in London on Wednesday, the city’s Silvio Berlusconi, the 81-year-old former with women a good half-century younger. to the party’s earlier secessionist platform His jobs helped him become spokesman ambulance service said. three-time premier can’t take the helm again Matteo Salvini is in a battle to dominate that scapegoated the south. for Rome Mayor Francesco Rutelli, a former Trains, planes stalled should Forza Italia, the party he created a the center-right, and wants to upstage Ber- He is divorced from the mother of his Radical and Greens Party leader who later One train travelling from London’s Waterloo Station to Wey- quarter-century ago, triumph. lusconi’s Forza Italia party. two children. He is romantically involved forged close ties with the Vatican. mouth ground to a halt outside New Milton, stranding motorists That’s because a tax fraud conviction bans He has never held public office in Italy, with a TV starlet, who upstaged him in an Though his own candidacy to be Rome’s for hours. him for from holding public office. But neither taking over as head of the Northern League appearance at the San Remo musical festival mayor in 2013 flopped, Gentiloni was avail- Thousands of homes are without electricity as temperatures the ban, nor an array of corruption and sex in 2013, when the party was engulfed in a in a transparent gown with sequin accents able for bigger roles. When Renzi resigned, remain below freezing, with bitter winds. scandals can keep Berlusconi away. scandal over the misuse of funds. While fre- over a lace teddy. the Italian president tapped Gentiloni, who Heathrow Airport tweeted Friday that it was working with He’s dueling with campaign coalition part- quently bashing the EU, once calling it “a Like his fellow Florentine, Niccolo’ Macch- had become foreign minister, to be premier. airlines to consolidate the flight schedule “to provide more cer- ner Matteo Salvini, who heads the right-wing cage of crazies,” his sole political office has iavelli, Matteo Renzi relishes political calcu- A tennis player known for a mean drop tainty around departing flights,” as extreme winter conditions anti-migrant League party, for dominance been as a deputy in the European Parliament, lation. In 2014, Renzi ruthlessly engineered shot, Gentiloni has finessed talk of extending were expected across the U.K. and Europe. More than 350 flights of Italy’s center-right bloc. a post he has held since 2004. a meteoritic rise from Florence mayor to the his premiership. Under Democratic Party were cancelled. Gatwick, London City, Edinburgh and Glasgow Berlusconi is clearly relishing the prospect Salvini, 43, has been anti-migrant, while premiership, in the process making enemies rules, the party secretary is the de facto airports also reported cancellations. of being a potential kingmaker and milking claiming to support legal immigration. He in the Democratic Party, and becoming, at candidate for the premiership - Renzi’s Other European airports closed down entirely. Authorities a role as a familiar face to reassure European leveraged for political gain the recent shooting 39, the country’s youngest leader. the secretary. at Geneva’s airport in Switzerland have suspended air traffic for Union partners. of six African migrants by an unsuccessful But he miscalculated in his assessment of But with Renzi’s popularity among Dem- a second straight day amid heavy snowfall. That’s some turnaround. After all, in local Northern League candidate in a local how committed Italians were to ambitious ocrats in question, Gentiloni is a potential The airport says on its website that departing and arriving flights 2011, Berlusconi reluctantly stepped down election. The gunman was allegedly motivated economic and political reforms. After voters candidate to lead a grand coalition. Even have been barred until further notice “because of the prevailing as premier after markets lost faith in him. by the arrest of a Nigerian in the gruesome rejected constitutional reforms in a referen- Berlusconi has professed admiration. weather conditions.” It advised passengers to contact their air- Berlusconi is no longer Italy’s richest man. murder of a young Italian woman. dum, Renzi kept his word and, fighting tears, (Source: AP) lines to find out if their flights were still scheduled for departure. Around 340 flights were cancelled at Ireland’s Dublin Airport, which posted images of swirling snow together with the hashtag Pakistani lawmakers begin secret vote China delays U.S. request against #BeastFromTheEast. It doesn’t plan to open until Saturday. Meanwhile, after one of the coldest starts to the meteorological for senate elections North Korea at UN Security Council spring, it looks like temperatures will recover a little over the coming days, especially in the south. Northern parts of the UK will hold onto the very cold conditions over the weekend, with further snow showers likely, especially over northern and eastern Scotland. Early next week, temperatures will improve a little, but it will stay cold for the time of year. Temperatures will range from 2 C to 5C (35F to 41F) on Monday. Southern parts of the UK will see less cold air moving in over the weekend, with temperatures close to average across south- west England on Sunday. Showers will turn increasingly to rain and the main hazards will be dense fog and icy stretches overnight. Next week, there will be a gradual improvement on temper- atures, so it won’t be as cold as it has been, but there is little sign of any spring warmth. Temperatures will range from 5C to 9C (48F) on Monday.

Turkish warplanes hit

Pakistani lawmakers on Saturday (PPP) currently controls the 104-seat sen- China has postponed a U.S. request for a and the country’s imports of crude oil and pro-Syrian govt forces in began casting votes in secret for new ate but is expected to be replaced by the UN Security Council committee to blacklist refined petroleum products. Afrin, kill 36 senators in parliament’s upper house PML-N as the single biggest party. With dozens of ships, companies and a Taiwan- In late February, the U.S. Treasury black- in an election that looks set to boost its allies in the senate, PML-N is tipped to ese individual over violation of sanctions listed more than 50 North Korea-linked 1 the ruling party, as it tries to revive take control of the chamber. against North Korea. shipping companies, vessels, and trade ‘Turkey strikes also claiming civilian lives’ the political fortunes of ousted prime Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of the Diplomats said on Friday that China businesses, imposing an asset freeze and Meanwhile, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that minister Nawaz Sharif. National Assembly, cast the first vote in placed a hold on the U.S. request, Reuters barring U.S. citizens from dealing with Turkish tanks shelled al-Hujaila village in Afrin on Friday night, Winning control of the Senate could the elections in capital Islamabad, the par- reported, adding that Beijing did not pro- them. killing eight civilians and injuring 12 others, mostly women and enable the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz liamentary media wing said on Saturday vide any specific reason. U.S. President Donald Trump described children. The Turkish army and its allied anti-Syrian government (PML-N) to change the constitution to make morning. A hold, which is often used by UNSC the measures as the “heaviest sanctions militants also targeted the villages of Sharran and Jandaris in Afrin, former prime minister and party leader Polling is taking place in Pakistan’s four members to obtain more information, ever” levied on Pyongyang. causing damage to residential units and public infrastructure. Sharif eligible to hold office again when provincial assemblies and the federal par- can either be lifted or sometimes lead to The North Korean Foreign Ministry the party contests a national election due liament, with officials expecting final results a permanent blocking of a proposal. censured the U.S. sanctions as an “act of later this year. to be announced later in the afternoon. Last week, the U.S. requested the Secu- war.” While PML-N has not spoken to amend- The final results will not immediately rity Council to subject 33 ships, 19 of which Tensions have been high between Wash- ing the constitution in such a way, the party show how well PML-N has done because are North Korean, to a global port entry ington and Pyongyang over the latter’s has been on a collision course with the a number of candidates were barred from ban and freeze the assets of 27 shipping missile and nuclear programs. country’s judiciary since July when the running under the party’s banner following companies and the Taiwanese individual Although the U.S. administration says it Supreme Court ousted Sharif from power by Sharif’s disqualification by the Supreme over interactions with Pyongyang. prefers a diplomatic solution to the crisis, disqualifying him over undeclared assets. Court last month. Washington said the proposal was it has repeatedly threatened Pyongyang Last month the top court again disqual- Those candidates, who will be running aimed at shutting down North Korea’s with military action. ified Sharif by removing him as head of as “independents”, are expected to pledge “illicit maritime smuggling activities to North Korea, already under numer- PML-N, the political party he founded. their allegiance to PML-N if they are elected obtain oil and sell coal.” ous sanctions, has refused to halt its A total of 135 candidates, which includes to the senate, PML-N party officials say. Since 2006, the Security Council has weapons program, pledging to keep 25 women, are contesting the 52 senate Under Pakistan’s constitution a bill cannot intensified sanctions against North Ko- up development of its military capa- The Syrian government has already condemned the “brutal seats. The elected senators would serve become law unless it is passed by both upper rea over its nuclear and ballistic missile bilities in response to the U.S. military Turkish aggression” against Afrin, rejecting Ankara’s claim about a six year term. and lower houses of parliament. programs, banning Pyongyang’s exports presence in the region. having informed Damascus of the operation. The opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (Source: Reuters) of coal, iron, lead, textiles and seafood, (Source: Daily Star) Turkey has been waging “Operation Olive Branch” against Syria’s Afrin region since January 20 in a bid to eliminate the YPG, which forms the backbone of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is backed by the U.S. The Turkish government Iraq arrests, kills 25 ISIL remnants near Mosul views the YPG as a terror organization and the Syrian branch of Iraqi media reports say more than two dozen ISIL (Daesh) by the Takfiri group claimed the lives of two soldiers and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The latter has terrorists have been killed and arrested in an army operation left three others injured. been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. west of Mosul, which was once the Takfiri terror group’s Daesh unleashed a campaign of death and terror in Iraq This is while U.S. officials regard the YPG as the most effec- main stronghold in the Arab country. in 2014, overrunning vast swathes in lightning advances in tive fighting force against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in “Security troops arrested, today, 17 Daesh members in the northern and western parts of the country. Iraqi army northern Syria, and have substantially increased their weaponry al-Rayhanna village and seized the weapons in their pos- soldiers and allied fighters then launched operations to and technology support to the group. session in Badush, west of Mosul,” an Iraqi security source eliminate Daesh and retake lost territory. Turkey has warned that the Afrin offensive could expand to told Baghdad Today news website on Friday. Last July, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally the nearby Syrian city of Manbij. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, added declared Mosul free of Daesh terrorists, in a major blow to In a separate development, Ankara said Saturday that 41 of that “eight members including three [Daesh] leaders were the terrorist outfit that helped the armed forces to speed its soldiers had been killed in Afrin. killed in an airstrike against al-Atshana Mountain, in the up their liberation operation. Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli made the announce- wake of their attack against a checkpoint in Badush and Daesh’s territorial rule in Iraq came to an end months ment in a speech delivered at Istanbul National Defense University fleeing to mountainous areas.” later in December 2017, when Abadi announced an ultimate on Friday, adding that 95 villages or hamlets had come under Iraqi security forces had repelled a terrorist attack on a victory against the Takfiri group. their control during the Afrin operation. checkpoint in Badush a day earlier. The assault perpetrated (Source: Press TV) (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS MARCH 4, 2018 Video replays set to be used at World Cup Nadal pulls out of Indian Wells, Miami with injury after IFAB approval Video assistant referees are set to be used at Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Indian Wells and Miami Open this year’s World Cup in Russia after football’s tournaments after aggravating the leg injury that forced him out lawmakers voted to approve the technology. of the Australian Open in January, the Spanish world number VAR has been trialled in some domestic two said on Friday. Nadal, a three-times winner at Indian Wells English cup games this season, and has been and five-times finalist at Miami, suffered his latest setback during used in Germany and Italy. a training session on Tuesday that forced him to pull out of this The International Football Association week’s Mexican Open in Acapulco. Board (Ifab) “unanimously approved” its “Unfortunately, the injury I suffered in Acapulco before start- introduction on a permanent basis after a ing the tournament is in the same area as the one suffered in meeting in Zurich on Saturday. Melbourne,” Nadal said on his Facebook page.“I won’t be able Leagues and competitions must now apply to play in Miami or Indian Wells as I need to recover. to Ifab to implement the technology. “It was very painful to retire from Acapulco and it’s very hard as Fifa president Gianni Infantino said a well to not play in the USA. I will miss you and I will do everything decision on whether VAR will be used to that’s possible to be back there in 2019.” the World Cup will be taken at a meeting This marks the latest setback for the 31-year-old Spaniard, who on 16 March. has not competed since retiring from his quarter-final against “As of today, video assistant refereeing Croatia’s Marin Cilic in Melbourne and recently lost the world is part of football,” he said. number one ranking to Roger Federer. “We hope and encourage a favourable The BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells begins next week decision in this respect because we are very while the Miami Open follows two weeks later. positive about VAR.” Nadal is the second high-profile player in as many days to Ifab is made up of the Football Associations withdraw from the tournaments as former world number three of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Stan Wawrinka said his recovery from a persistent knee injury Ireland as well as Fifa. would keep him from competing at both events. Each FA has one vote, while world football’s (Source: Reuters) governing body has four votes and six are required for a change in the laws. The decision over VAR was made after benefits it can bring. Of course, we need to ’Minimum interference - maxi- in December 2016, and trialled in the 2017 they were presented with the results of the speed up the reviews and the communication mum benefit’ Confederations Cup. Guardiola heaps praise on independent analysis of the use of the system to the referees that are applying it but also Ifab said the “philosophy” of VARs is The system was described as “comical” conducted by Belgian university KU Leuven for the general public.” “minimum interference - maximum benefit” and “embarrassing” after Tottenham’s 6-1 ‘master’ tactician Conte since March 2016. Despite Ifab’s decision, the Premier League with the intention of reducing “unfairness FA Cup win over Rochdale on Wednesday, “I would say to the fans, players and is not expected to introduce VAR next sea- caused by clear and obvious errors or serious when a goal was disallowed and a converted Antonio Conte is a “master” tactician and the Chelsea manager has coaches that it will have an impact, a posi- son, and Uefa has already said it will not be missed incidents”. penalty overturned. already changed the way clubs play in the Premier League, accord- tive impact,” said Infantino. “That is what used in the Champions League next season. It added the incidents that referred to Any domestic league or competition would ing to the Italian’s Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola. the results of the study show. France’s Ligue 1 is to introduce it from would be in relation to: have to adopt VAR protocols for every game. Conte won the Premier League title in his debut season in “From almost 1,000 live matches that next season...... Goal/no goal On Friday, the Premier League it was England last year but the London outfit are currently struggling were part of the experiment, the level of the “In all my discussions with people in the ...... Penalty/no penalty “monitoring closely the video assistant referee down in fifth place, 22 points behind runaway leaders City. accuracy increased from 93% to 99%. It’s Premier League, they can all see benefit of ...... Direct red card (not second yellow trials being conducted in other competitions”. Chelsea are also two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in almost perfect.” VAR,” said English FA chief executive Martin card/caution) It added: “The evidence and learning the race for a top-four finish that will ensure qualification for He added: “I was pretty much against it Glenn. “If they do choose to not implement ...... Mistaken identity (when the referee provided by those trials will inform further next season’s Champions League. a couple of years ago but I studied it. it then it won’t be a fundamental rejection of cautions or sends off the wrong player) discussions with our clubs later this season.” “I think Conte is going to leave something to English football. “We have looked into all the details and VAR - it will be a case of giving it more time.” VAR was first used at the Club World Cup (Source: BBC) I am sure of that,” Guardiola told reporters as his side prepare to heap more misery on the champions in Sunday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium. Diego Simeone: No plan to stop Antonio Conte questions Chelsea’s Guardiola’s side will go into the match on the back of a 3-0 league victory over Arsenal on Thursday, while Chelsea lost their ‘impossible’ Lionel Messi vs. Barcelona ambition last league fixture 2-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday. Conte, who led Italy to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals before joining Chelsea later that year, has been the subject of persistent British media reports suggesting he will leave the club after criticizing their transfer policy this season. Guardiola, however, feels the former Juventus boss has already left his mark on English football. “What Antonio has done here in the Premier League, maybe the people don’t realize,” the former Barcelona boss said. “He introduced another way to attack with five at the back, another system. A lot of teams, even Arsenal, had to do a lot of imitating to do that. “Tactically, he is a master. He did it amazingly with the national team with Italy and when he went to Turin.” (Source: Guardian)

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said Asked whether his team were now Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has ques- leave Conte’s side five points adrift of the last No Pogba-Mourinho war at there is “no strategy” you can use to stop realistic challengers for the title, Sim- tioned whether the English champions share qualifying spot if their fourth-placed London Barcelona star Lionel Messi, although in- eone recalled that very few teams have his ambition as he prepares for Sunday’s rivals Tottenham Hotspur beat Huddersfield Man United – Raiola sisted his own in-form attackers Antoine been able to finish ahead of Barca and match at runaway Premier League leaders Town on Saturday. Conte believes Chelsea Griezmann and Diego Costa can also make Real Madrid in recent years, although Manchester City. Conte, who joined Chelsea have failed to sufficiently improve the squad Mino Raiola insisted there is no issue with star client Paul Pogba an impression in Sunday afternoon’s top- his side had managed it when they won in 2016, led them to the league title in his first after last season’s triumph, saying that City and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. of-the-table La Liga clash at Camp Nou. the 2013-14 title. season but they have failed to challenge this had wrapped up the title in the first half of Pogba has dominated headlines amid a reported feud with Second-placed Atletico have been closing “It is not impossible to win La Liga, term and sit fifth in the standings, 22 points the current campaign. Mourinho, who benched the £89million-rated midfielder for the the gap on leaders Barcelona in recent weeks although in the last 14 years only Villarreal behind City. Chelsea’s struggles have not “Last season we did a fantastic job. We first leg of United’s Champions League last-16 tie against Sevilla and it now stands at five points. have been second, and we have won it,” been helped by their transfer dealings after were a great surprise... But then you have last week. The 24-year-old France international was brought on Messi scored a superb free kick in Thurs- he said. “It is not impossible, as we did it, they missed out on some of their targets to to continue to build something important in the 17th minute for injured team-mate Ander Herrera, having day’s 1-1 draw at Las Palmas and has 31 but it is very difficult. We want to reach their Manchester rivals as well as Liverpool with the coach,” Conte added. been substituted in Premier League defeats to Tottenham and goals and 16 assists in all competitions this the last five games of the season with a and Tottenham Hotspur. “Manchester City won it (this season’s Newcastle United, before starting and starring in the club’s 2-1 season, as well as a record of 27 goals in chance. If we can do that, we will have our “It’s very important to have the coach title) in that first part of the season. This victory over Chelsea. Asked about Pogba amid speculation he 35 meetings with Atletico. possibilities.” and the club with the same ambition: to must be a great frustration for me, for my could move to Spanish and European champions Real Madrid, Simeone told a prematch news confer- Atletico’s attacking talisman Griezmann improve the team, the idea of football and players, for my club. If your name is Chel- agent Raiola told Rai Sport: “I don’t take anyone anywhere, I’m ence that one could not design a plan to has 20 goals so far this term, including the quality of your players,” Conte told sea, you have to try to fight until the end.” not a taxi or a plane. “Of course, if things weren’t going well than stop his fellow Argentine, however his side a hat trick in last weekend’s 5-2 win at reporters.“If you find this situation, prob- The 48-year-old Italian also backed I’d be ready to do my job, which is to find other solutions for the would look to control the game in a way Sevilla and all four in Wednesday’s 4-0 ably the season will finish with success... big-spending City to strengthen further club and the player. that limited Messi’s influence. victory over Leganes. “I have great ambition but I don’t have under manager Pep Guardiola. “There’s no war with Mourinho though, Paul wants to win “[Messi] is extraordinary form,” Asked whether the France interna- money for Chelsea. The club knows very With Conte’s future uncertain at Chelsea with Manchester United.” Simeone said. “There are no strategies tional, and reported Barca target, was well what is my idea, what is my ambition... as he struggles to repeat the success of his Pogba and United are back in action on Monday, when the which can control something which is at the level of Messi or current Ballon When you decide to work with this type of first season, Italian Football Federation Red Devils travel to lowly Crystal Palace. impossible. Many things can happen d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo, Simeone coach, you must understand that you take (FIGC) vice-commissioner Alessandro United are second in the table, 16 points behind runaway during a game. We will need to bring recalled that his start to 2017-18 had not a coach with great ambition.” Costacurta has said he is the primary choice leaders Manchester City and two clear of Liverpool. the game to where we believe we can do been so good. Chelsea are battling for Champions League to return to the national team. (Source: Soccerway) them damage.” (Source: ESPN) football next season but defeat at City would (Source: Mirror)

Icardi ´more than ready´ to Star gymnast sues U.S. Olympic Committee over Nassar sex abuse U.S. gymnast Aly Raisman has sued the U.S. Olympic Com- also worked. It spawned several lawsuits and criminal and face Milan – Spalletti mittee and USA Gymnastics over decades of sexual abuse civil investigations. Raisman’s lawsuit was the latest civil Luciano Spalletti confirmed Mauro Icardi will line up against by former national team doctor Larry Nassar, saying they complaint filed by California attorney John Manly on behalf Inter’s fierce rivals AC Milan as he chases his 100th Serie A goal put“money and medals” before the safety of athletes. of former Olympic gymnasts and national gymnastics team on Sunday. A knee injury has prevented the Argentine striker Raisman, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, said in members concerning the Nassar abuse. from starting a game for Inter since their 1-1 draw with SPAL November that she was sexually abused by Nassar, who Manly also filed a lawsuit against the USOC and other on January 28 but Spalletti’s men managed two wins from four pleaded guilty last year to molesting female athletes under defendants in December on behalf of McKayla Maroney, a games without their most potent goal threat. the guise of medical treatment for nearly 20 years. 2012 Olympic gymnastics gold and silver medalist. Fourth-placed Inter are seven points and three places above “I refuse to wait any longer for these organizations to Attorney David Mittleman represents 90 of the 256 Milan in the Serie A table, and victory on Sunday could see them do the right thing. It is my hope that the legal process will plaintiffs already suing USA Gymnastics in federal court leapfrog Lazio into third place. hold them accountable and enable the change that is so in Michigan. On Friday he said the plaintiffs had yet to The return of Icardi, who has 18 league goals this season, desperately needed,” she said in a statement on Friday. decide whether to broaden the lawsuit to include the USOC. comes as a significant boost. “Icardi is not just ready, he’s more According to her lawsuit, which seeks unspecified dam- discipline Nassar but never intervened. The USOC, which has faced months of criticism over the than ready,” Spalletti told a pre-match media conference. ages, Raisman still suffers from“depression, anxiety and The lawsuit said the defendants, including two former USA scandal, said on Wednesday that its chief executive officer, “The derby brings special sensations to those who are strong. fear” stemming from the abuse. It was filed on Wednesday Gymnastics officials, could have prevented the molestation Scott Blackmun, was resigning for health reasons. It did not The points say we are ahead of Milan and in order to earn those in California state court in Santa Clara County. if they had been serious about their duty to protect young say if the scandal had played a role in Blackmun’s departure. points, we must’ve put in strong performances. The 23-year-old athlete was among nearly 200 gymnasts, athletes but instead they“put their quest for money and In its statement, USOC outlined reforms aimed at protecting “The most difficult thing will be to play and take the game to including several Olympic medalists, who spoke out during medals above the safety” of the plaintiff and other athletes. its athletes from abuse. Raisman said in her statement on them with our qualities.” Nassar’s televised sentencing hearings about decades of abuse. The USOC did not immediately return requests for com- Friday that the organizations were still“unwilling to conduct A run of seven winless league games in December and January In January and February, in separate sentencing hear- ment. USA Gymnastics declined to comment on the lawsuit, a full investigation, and without a solid understanding of how tarnished Inter’s hopes of mounting a title challenge, but two ings in Michigan, Nassar received prison terms of 40 to but reiterated that it first learned in June 2015 that an athlete this happened, it is delusional to think sufficient changes wins from their last three has left Spalletti in determined mood 125 years and 40 to 175 years. He is also serving a 60-year had“expressed concern about a procedure by Larry Nassar” can be implemented.” to see out the season with a run of form. federal term for child pornography convictions. and that it reported it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Last month, USOC Board of Directors Chairman Larry “If we want to qualify for the Champions League, we can’t The lawsuit contends that the U.S. Olympic Commit- The Nassar scandal prompted the entire board of directors Probst said the U.S. Olympic system had“failed” the hundreds wait or allow slip-ups,” he said. tee (USOC), USA Gymnastics and former executives of the at USA Gymnastics to resign, along with the president and of young female athletes who were sexually abused by Nassar. (Source: Goal) sport’s governing body had the authority and mandate to athletic director at Michigan State University, where Nassar (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MARCH 4, 2018 SPORTS 15

Alihosseini:I deserved to win Laureus Iranian teams learn rivals at Asian Club Volleyball World Comeback of the Year Championship SPORTS Iranian super heav- TASNIM — Iranian men’s and women’s teams have learned deskyweight weightlifter their rivals at the Asian Club Volleyball Championship. Saeid Alihosseini says that it could be a The Iranian men’s volleyball club have been drawn in Pool A great honor for his nation if he would win along with Japan and Qatar. the Laureus World Comeback of the Year. Pool B consists of Kazakhstan, Iraq and China while Chinese Roger Federer was the big winner at Taipei, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand are in Pool C. the 2018 Laureus World Sports Awards The competition will be held in Myanmar. on Tuesday night, picking up the Sports- Iranian women’s team have also learned its rivals in the man of the Year and Comeback of the competition. Year awards at the ceremony in Monaco. Iran have been pitted against host Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei The Swiss tennis icon, who reclaimed and Vietnam in Pool B. the world No 1 ranking after overcoming a Pool A consists of Thailand, Japan and China and the Philip- serious knee injury and winning his 20th pines, Indonesia, Fiji and Sri Lanka are in Pool C. Grand Slam title at the Australian Open The AVC Club Volleyball Championship is an international last month, fought off competition from sports competition for club volleyball teams, currently held an- Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Nadal to nually and organized by the Asian Volleyball Confederation, the land the Sportsman of the Year award. Asian volleyball federation. Now, the Iranian weightlifter says he From the year of 2004, the names of AVC Club Tournaments deserved to win the prestigious award. changed from “AVC Cup Men’s/Women’s Club Tournaments” to Alihosseini returned to action in De- “Asian Men’s/Women’s Club Volleyball Championship”. cember in the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships after eight years due to doping suspension and won a silver medal. Reigning Olympic champion Lasha Beckham: Many players Talakhadze claimed the gold medal and the bronze medal went to Behdad salami. I know are asking to “To win the Laureus award is a great join Miami honor and I liked to win the honor as an Iranian. I won a medal after eight years absence and I think it I did a good job,” David Beckham says many players he knows from his career Alihosseini said. have already reached out to him to express interest in playing “From now on, I will not be an easy for his new Miami team. opponent for Talakhadze. I won a silver Major League Soccer officially awarded Beckham and his medal in Anaheim with just three months partners an expansion franchise in January, nearly four years training,” he went on to say. after the former England star first announced plans to start a team in south Florida. Beckham returned to Miami this week for planning meetings, and though he says it’s a too early to start planning a squad for Iran, Algeria friendly confirmed a team that won’t play before 2020 at the earliest, he’s still been getting plenty of phone calls. “In a year’s time, we can have those talks, I don’t think it’s at UPC-Arena before then,” Beckham told the Miami Herald. “I’ve been approached by many different players from many SPORTS Iran national football team will face for March 14 was cancelled after the Libyan federation different teams I’ve played with or against, and there’s interest deskAlgeria on March 27 at the UPC-Arena announced their foreign-based players have not been there, but you can’t really have those conversations yet until in Graz, Austria. allowed to join their national team. closer to next year.” Carlos Queiroz’s men will take on the African pow- Queiroz’s team have been drawn in Group B along As for a manger, Beckham said that he hoped to “have one erhouse at 18:00 local time. with Spain, Morocco and Portugal. coach for many, many years,” but that any potential hire would The friendly will be held as part of Team Melli’s Iran will open the campaign with a match against be expected to follow a “team philosophy.” preparation for the 2018 World Cup. Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15. Beckham also told the newspaper he will have news on a team Iran selected Algeria because the African team have Team Melli, meanwhile, face Spain in Kazan on 20 name, logo, and colors by early April, while plans for a youth the same style of football as that of Morocco. June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in academy will be announced in the summer. A friendly match between Iran and Libya, scheduled Saransk five days later. On Friday, Beckham took the time to visit a pair of Florida high schools to congratulate them on winning the state soccer titles. He stopped at Palmer Trinity to present the boys’ champions Coleman stutters before breezing into 60m semis with their trophy, and he got an even louder reception when BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) — it through. I’m really excited and feel well 100m champion Kim Collins, the popular posed to do. But I am going out in peace — no honoring the girls at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy. Christian Coleman, the man fancied to lead prepared. The crowd here is great so far and Saint Kitts & Nevis athlete who finished third low notes, no high notes. There will be no Beckham told The Associated Press the outreach is one key sprinting into the post-Usain Bolt era, gave I think it will be electric this evening.” in Coleman’s heat in 6.77 to battle into the comebacks. part of his plan to start building a fan base in Miami. a glimpse of his searing ability after a brief Thanks to his mistake, Coleman, who semis in his final competition. “I keep telling the youngsters that I am “How can you not enjoy these moments?” Beckham said. alarm as he breezed into the 60 meters turns 22 on Tuesday, was only the 16th fastest In a happy coincidence, Collins, the oldest old enough to be their father and that they “For me, it’s always been important to go to different schools semi-finals at the world indoor champion- qualifier for the semi-finals scheduled for man in the championships, lined up next to the should show me respect.” around the world, luckily, and I’ve seen some amazing kids and ships on Saturday. the evening session before the final which youngest competitor, Malta’s 16-year-old Jacob El Aida certainly did that, hardly able to some amazing young talented kids as well. It’s obvious, but kids Coleman, the U.S. sprinter who set a is the climax of Saturday’s program. El Aida, and made light of the 25-year age gap as credit that he had been sandwiched in lane five are our future.” world record of 6.34 seconds last month, The quickest man in the heats was Cole- he beat the awe-struck youngster by 0.32 seconds. by Collins on one side and Coleman on the other. (Source: Soccernet) stuttered on his third stride while easing man’s U.S. team mate Ronnie Baker, who “I feel young but it is time to say good- “I saw the list of heats when I was in the into cruise control but still had no problems clocked 6.57, while other impressive winners bye. This is it. I can’t do it any more,” said stands and I didn’t stop smiling for 30 min- as he then motored away from the field to were Turkey’s Emre Zafer Barnes (6.58) and Collins, who won a silver medal in the event utes,” beamed the man from an island that win in a modest 6.71 seconds. China’s Su Bingtian (6.59). when the championships were last staged has no indoor track. Vogel claims record-equaling “My start was decent, but I tripped,” The biggest cheer in the morning session in Birmingham 15 years ago. “Kim is a legend — I hope I am still run- 11th world title Coleman said. “But I stayed calm and made was reserved for 41-year-old former world “The body isn’t able to do what it is sup- ning when I am 41.”

Germany’s Kristina Vogel claimed a record-equaling 11th world title as she powered to victory in the individual sprint Matchday Three: West Zone Preview at the UCI track championships in Apeldoorn on Friday. Kuala Lumpur: After a week without AFC Champions Zobahan will be seeking back-to-back home wins Vogel followed up her victory in the team sprint to League action, the 16 teams in the West Zone return for when they host Al Wahda, in the knowledge that victory move level with Australia’s Anna Meares on the all-time Matchday Three on Monday and Tuesday. would put them in a strong position at the midway point women’s list. Group A of the group stage. The 27-year-old was taken After recording back-to-back wins to lead the way in Opponents Al Wahda have endured a disappointing start to a deciding sprint by Aus- Group A, Al Ahli will look to edge closer to the knockout to their campaign, having lost their first two games, and tralia’s Stephanie Morton, the rounds when they travel to Al Gharafa on Monday. will hope for an upturn of fortunes in Isfahan. fastest qualifier in the heats, Al Ahli’s 2-1 win over Al Jazira two weeks ago saw the Zobahan (IRN) v Al Wahda (UAE) but once again the Olympic Saudi team open up a three-point lead at the top of the Venue: Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan champion showed her quality standings, while Al Gharafa bounced back from an open- Al Duhail (QAT) v Lokomotic (UZB) when the pressure was on. ing-day loss to see off Tractorsazi Tabriz 3-0. Venue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha “At the moment and on Al Jazira have now won one and lost one ahead of the visit Group D this day I’m not counting,” of Iranian side Tractorsazi and they will look to return to Esteghlal moved two points clear at the top of Group Vogel, who sat on the track winning ways to make a push for knockout stage qualification. they will look to maintain that when they welcome Al Wasl D following their 1-0 win over Al Hilal two weeks ago draped in a German flag after Tractorsazi, meanwhile, will be desperate to put their to Tehran for their third match of the campaign. and next travel to Al Ain on Tuesday. her victory, said of matching first points on the board as a third successive defeat would Al Wasl are currently propping up the standings and The Emirati side have drawn each of their first two Meares. “It was very hard at almost certainly end their chances of making the next round. will need to avoid defeat if they are to have any realistic games, having seen Al Rayyan leave Hazza Bin Zayed Sta- the end and it took me three Al Gharafa (QAT) v Al Ahli (KSA) hope of advancing to the knockout phase. dium with a point on Matchday Two, and will be seeking final heats to get the gold Venue: Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha Nasaf (UZB) v Al Sadd (QAT) a first three points in front of home support. medal. Al Jazira (UAE) v Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRN) Venue: Qarshi Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi The 2017 runners-up Al Hilal have yet to score in the “Today it took everything to make it to the finish line. Venue: Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Persepolis (IRN) v Al Wasl (UAE) current campaign and, with just a point to their name, will be I’m just proud to make this world title.” Group C Venue: Azadi Stadium, Tehran looking for a first win on Tuesday when they host Al Rayyan. There were more home celebrations as Kirsten Wild Pacesetters in Group C, Al Sadd are aiming for their Group B Two draws from two represents a solid start from Al claimed her second gold medal of the week to make it three third successive win when they travel to Uzbekistan to After seeing off Al Wahda 3-2 last week, Al Duhail will Rayyan in what looks like being a compact group and, wins for the Dutch so far. face Nasaf on Monday. look to continue their perfect start in Group B ahead of the should they avoid defeat in Riyadh, the Qatari side will Wild, who delivered Dutch gold on the opening day of Al Sadd defeated 2017 semi-finalists Persepolis 3-1 visit of Lokomotiv on Tuesday. be in a reasonable position after three games. the event when she topped the podium in the scratch race, last week, but Nasaf are also going into the game off a The Uzbek champions began their campaign with a Al Ain (UAE) v Esteghlal (IRN) won the last sprint of the points race in the multi-discipline win, having posted a 1-0 victory over Al Wasl on Match- 5-0 win over Al Wahda but suffered a 2-0 defeat away Venue: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain omnium to secure the title in style, delighting the home crowd. day Two. at Zobahan on Matchday Two and have not won away Al Hilal (KSA) v Al Rayyan (QAT) It was an eighth world championships medal for the 35-year- Persepolis have a reputation for strong home form and from home since the 2016 group stage. Venue: King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh old but first gold in the omnium, having won silver last year. Amalie Dideriksen of Denmark was second with Rushlee Buchanan of New Zealand third. Earlier in the day Australia’s Cameron Meyer controlled PyeongChang 2018: Paralympic Heritage Flame lit the men’s points race to win his fifth world title in the event The Paralympic Heritage Flame has been Stoke Mandeville were highlighted. These were lit in South Korea’s capital, and ninth rainbow jersey in total. lit at a ceremony in Stoke Mandeville, the Eight-time Paralympic equestrian gold Seoul; Jeju Island, Anyang, Nonsan, Go- “It’s special,” Meyer, who won five intermediate sprints and birthplace of the Movement, with a week medallist Sophie Christiansen took the Torch chang and Cheongdo. took two laps on the field, said. “Every one of them is special to go until PyeongChang 2018. to the stage, where she was joined by fellow The events coincided with the first full when you win a gold medal in the world championships. A lone archer shot an arrow at the start of Paralympics GB athlete Ali Jawad. moon of the Lunar New Year and started a “To win today was not easy. To be one of the favorites proceedings, a nod to the archery competi- The Rio 2016 silver medalist then lit Torch Relay building towards the Opening every time is a lot of pressure, but I enjoy it.” tion at the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948, the Heritage Flame, prompting another Ceremony on March 9. Jan Willem van Schip won silver, adding another medal the forerunner of the Paralympic Games. burst of fireworks. A total of 800 Torchbearers will carry to the hosts’ total, with Britain’s Mark Stewart third. The archer launched the first in a se- The Flame will now be sent “virtually” to the Torch to complete a total of 2,018 kilo- Italy’s Filippo Ganna won the men’s individual pursuit, quence of fireworks, before the history of PyeongChang, where it is set to merge with meters, marking the year of the Games. storming back to beat Portugal’s Ivo Oliveira in a nailbiter. the Paralympic Movement and its links to a series of regional flames in South Korea. (Source: Paralympic.org) (Source: Reuters) Prayer Times Noon:12:16 Evening: 18:20 Dawn: 5:06 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:29 (tomorrow) MARCH 4, 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 Schiller to perform “Berlin-Tehran” Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 at Tehran concerts Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. ARTTEHRAN — The Tel: 88911433 deskGerman electronic music Webmaster: [email protected] band Schiller plans to perform “Berlin- Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 Tehran” in its repertoire arranged for the No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Tehran concerts opening tonight, composer P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Christopher von Deylen said during a press Zip Code: 1599814713 conference in Tehran on Saturday. Iranian rhythms characterize the piece, but no Iranian instruments will be used in the performances, Von Deylen stated. Schiller will give performances for three nights at the Grand Hall of the Interior Ministry in Tehran. This is the second time the band has given concerts in Tehran. Earlier in December 2017, the band gave performances at the Grand Hall of the Iranian photographers Interior Ministry. The performances were warmly received by Iranian concertgoers. honored at Bristol Salon Von Deylen said that he is happy that Iranian audiences like his music. of Photography He also added that in his previous trip to Iran he got to know more about ARTTEHRAN – Three Iranian photographers have Iranian music but he still does not know deskbeen honored at the Bristol Salon of Photography any Iranian musicians. 2018 in England, the organizers announced last week. Von Deylen also mentioned that he The contest is organized discovered that Iranian audiences like by the Photographic Society more rhythmic pieces and that is why he of America (PSA) and the has chosen some more upbeat and rhythmic Federation Internationale de pieces for his second concert in Tehran. l’Art Photographique (FIAP). Ritmeno, an Iranian music news agency Negar Aqa-Alitari won the that is the organizer of the performances, FIAP Bronze Medal for her has arranged the second concert for three photo “Eyes” competing in the nights. Schiller performs a concert at the Grand Hall of the Interior Ministry in Tehran on December 12, 2017. (YJC/Mitra Samavaki) Monochrome Section. “Eyes” is a portrait of an elderly Iranian woman. Amir-Ali Navadeh-Shahla “Emoji Movie” swoons below Cruise, Gibson at ‘worst in film’ Razzies with his photo “Iron Seller” LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Animated “The Emoji maligned action reboot “The Mummy.” depicting three Iranian men Movie” stunk up the annual Razzie awards on Saturday, Gibson was bestowed the worst supporting actor at a workshop received an tanking below all contenders for worst achievements for his comedic turn in “Daddy’s Home 2” alongside honorable mention in the Photo in film, while Tom Cruise and Mel Gibson were also John Lithgow, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. Travel Section. roasted for 2017’s most ignoble performances. Tyler Perry, a perennial Razzie punching bag, took “Eyes” by Negar Aqa-Alitari won “Crossing” by Ehsan “The Emoji Movie”, Sony Pictures children’s home the worst actress raspberry for his popular drag the FIAP Bronze Medal at the Nikfarjam, which features an film about talking emoticons, earned four Golden character Madea in “Boo 2: A Medea Halloween.” Bristol Salon of Photography Iranian woman and several Raspberries, including worst picture, director and Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger earned the 2018 in England. children in a historical passage, screenplay. Razzie dishonor for her supporting role in “Fifty also won an honorable mention in this category. In its 38th year, the Razzies serves as a tongue-in- Shades Darker,” while the big screen adaptation of cheek response to the Sunday’s Academy Awards by TV series “Baywatch” won the fan-voted award of handing out $4.97 gold spray-painted berry trophies. “nominee so bad you loved it!” Cruise won worst actor for his leading role as The Razzies are chosen by more than 1,000 voting “Cape” writer denies racism a U.S. Army sergeant who accidentally unleashes Cast member T.J. Miller attends the premiere for “The members from more than 26 countries, organizers ARTTEHRAN – Hamidreza Bababeigi, the writer mayhem by disturbing an ancient grave in the much- Emoji Movie” in Los Angeles. (Reuters/ Mario Anzuoni) said. deskof Hossein Kondori’s movie “Cape”, has denied that any racist attitude exists in the film, which has provoked ac- Jimmy Kimmel’s mission Time’s Up to receive official cusations of racism from a group of Afghan refugees living in Iran. “Those people who have viewed ‘Cape’ as racist and dislike impossible - Oscar host in midst of #MeToo moment on Oscars stage it should know that I’m the first in the line of people who hate racism or ethnocentric attitudes,” he said in a statement pub- lished on Saturday.

Reza Behbudi (L) and Baran Kowsari act in scene from “Cape”. The Afghan refugees have found some swearing in the film by an Iranian character at an Afghan woman offensive to their people. Construction welders work on a building next to billboards showing Academy Awards An Oscar statue is seen in a souvenir shop at the Dolby Theatre during prepara- Bababeigi said that the Afghans have had a misunderstanding host Jimmy Kimmle who will host 90th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, tions for the Oscars in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 28, 2018. with the film’s story. California U.S. March 1, 2018. (Reuters/Mike Blake) (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson) “This film is neither anti-Afghans nor anti-Iranians, neither anti-men nor anti-women, it provides a new insight to some LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jimmy of Hollywood. That’s going to be the theme LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — The evision worldwide. problems emigrants face in Iran,” Bababeigi noted. Kimmel is in therapy. Last year’s Oscar of the night, from the jokes told by Jimmy Academy Awards show has set aside a Time’s Up, launched on Jan. 1, is a Starring Baran Kowsari and Reza Behbudi, “Cape” tells the best picture blunder is giving the Academy Kimmel to the winners who are announced,” moment to feature the Time’s Up cam- legal defense fund which aims to support story of an Afghan woman who begins a struggle to save her Awards host nightmares - or so goes one said Tom O’Neil, founder of awards website paign against workplace sexual misconduct people reporting sexual harassment in child in a strange society. of the comedian’s video promotions for GoldDerby.com during Sunday’s Oscars ceremony. the entertainment industry and beyond. The film has recently been released on Iran’s home video Sunday’s ceremony. “He can’t avoid the subject of #MeToo and Organizers of the campaign said they It has the support of some of Holly- network. But the 2017 backstage envelope mix-up he must treat it with delicacy and sensitivity have worked with the producers of Sun- wood’s biggest female stars, including that saw the top prize in the movie industry while at the same time being fearless and day’s ceremony to bring attention their Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, briefly being awarded to “La La Land” rather lampooning it. So he has a very difficult cause, Hollywood trade publications DuVernay and“Grey’s Anatomy” pro- than actual winner “Moonlight” may pale role,” O’Neil said. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter ducer Shonda Rhimes. Two Iranian shorts in relation to the task facing Kimmel when Kimmel, 50, has said little about his said on Friday. Celebrities wore black en masse at to compete in Busan festival he returns as Oscar master of ceremonies plans and is ambiguous about whether he “There’s a moment that’s been carved the Golden Globe awards ceremony in for a second year. will address the elephant in the room. out,” Variety quoted film director Ava January to signal support for victims of ARTTEHRAN — The Iranian movies “Maned & Kimmel must navigate the #MeToo “This show is not about reliving people’s DuVernay as saying. sexual harassment, and at music’s Gram- deskMacho” by Shiva Sadeq-Asadi and “The Dis- misconduct scandal that has rocked sexual assaults,” Kimmel told ABC News The organizers did not give details, my Awards in January many artists held tance” by Yusef Kargar will compete in the 35th Busan Interna- Hollywood in front of a live audience of earlier this week. “It’s an awards show for and producers of the Oscars show did or pinned white roses to their clothes. tional Short Film Festival, which will run in the South Korean A-list celebrities, many of whom say they people who have been dreaming about maybe not respond to a request for comment. Time’s Up on Friday also announced city from April 24 to 29. are victims, as well as millions watching at winning an Oscar for their whole lives.” The sexual misconduct scandal has a partnership with the U.S. oral history “Maned and Macho” is about a girl’s repressed emotions and home. In January Kimmel told reporters that he dominated Hollywood’s awards season and project StoryCorps to document expe- instincts, which are embodied in some animals that come out He is also expected to throw in jokes about was “sure that it (the misconduct scandal) forced dozens of actors, filmmakers and riences by women about discrimination of her dreams. U.S. President Donald Trump, last year’s will be part of the subject matter of the show.” agents to step down, be fired or dropped and abuse in the workplace. best picture flub, the biggest pop culture Kimmel, known for his genial but from creative projects. Actresses Jane Fonda, Ashley Judd and moments of the past year, and the movies deadpan delivery, got high marks as last The Oscars ceremony today will give Rashida Jones are among a first group of and performances up for the highest honors year’s Academy Awards host when then- the Time’s Up campaign its biggest public women, including domestic workers and in show business. newly elected Trump and his policies became moment, reaching an audience of A-list human rights activists, to record their “This year, the casting couch is the target a running gag. celebrities and millions watching on tel- stories, organizers said in a statement. Musical “Evita” kicks off Asian tour in Singapore SINGAPORE (Reuters) — Forty years after opening in the musical’s director. The musical and its hit songs, such as “Don’t Cry For Me, London’s West End, the musical “Evita”, about Argentina’s “There are themes about love, and a woman’s determination, Argentina” and “High Flying Adored”, was inspired by the legendary first lady, Eva Peron, made its Asian debut in and essentially a woman’s strength in politics, which I think image of Evita raising her hands at the microphone addressing Singapore this month. we are wanting more of in the world,” said British actress huge rallies, with her blonde hair drawn back into a chignon. A scene from “The Distance” by Yusef Kargar Directed by Broadway’s Harold Prince and produced by Emma Kingston, who plays Evita, as she was affectionately The 1996 film based on the musical starred the singer “The Distance” is about Yashar who returns to Iran after several Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show charts the known. Madonna opposite Antonio Banderas. years to give news to his friend’s family, unaware of the news he rags-to-riches story of former President Juan Peron’s wife, In an interview, Prince agreed, saying, “The other thing, “Evita” originally opened in 1978 at London’s Prince Edward would hear from that family. whose death, at the height of her popularity, cemented her of course, is the larger message, because that pertains to all Theatre, where it ran for eight years. A lineup of 42 films from 35 countries has been selected to status in Argentina. of us. Who are our icons? And are they appropriately our The current version is to run in Singapore until March 18, screen at the Busan festival. The story is still relevant today, say cast members and icons? Or are they dictators?” before traveling to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tokyo.