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16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 38th year No.12930 Tuesday SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 Shahrivar 28, 1396 Dhul Hijjah 28, 1438 Rouhani: U.S. will pay Turkey to react to Kurdish Sculpture of “Alan” picks Golden high price if Trump referendum with violence: Maryam Mirzakhani Leaf at Duhok festival scraps nuclear deal 2 ex-CIA officer 7 to be unveiled 12 16

76 figures ask U.S., EU leaders to sustain Iran nuclear deal POLITICS TEHRAN — Today ment to report to the US Congress on desk76 senior political, whether Tehran continues to comply diplomatic and military figures from with the Iran nuclear deal. Credible across Europe in a statement, arguing reports suggest that President Trump Trump that any unilateral US action that jeop- is seeking a way to justify declaring ardizes the Iran nuclear deal would that Iran is no longer compliant with trigger a crisis in US-Europe rela- the deal. tions, damaging the US’s international Today 76 senior political, diplomatic standing and credibility in Europe. and military figures from across Europe Next month the US Administration have published a statement which a has no concludes its review of relations with copy of it sent to Tehran Times news Iran and addresses its next require- paper, arguing that any unilateral 13 Oil Ministry announces priorities ECONOMY TEHRAN — Devel- istry’s priorities which also puts other alternative deskoping joint oil and issues into spotlight, Tasnim reported. gas fields while paying especial- at Taking advantage of young and tention to environmental protection skilled workforce, boosting coop- are among the main priorities of the eration with the private sector and Iranian Oil Ministry for the next four attracting more foreign investment years. especially for petrochemical projects, for JCPOA: President Hassan Rouhani in a de- and reducing gas flaring have been cree on Monday outlined the Oil Min- put atop agenda. 4

Saudi prince purging dissent ex-WH before rise to throne With a crackdown on dissenters and country where half the population is a charm offensive to woo the king- under 25, though the timing of his as- dom’s swelling youth population, cension remains unknown. the House of Saud regime’s king-in- Already viewed as the de facto ruler official See page 7 waiting Mohammed bin Salman is controlling all the major levers of gov- cementing his grip on power, ana- ernment, from defense to economy, lysts say. MBS is seen as stamping out traces The 32-year-old crown prince, of- of internal dissent before any formal

File photo ten known as MBS, is set to be the first transfer of power from his 81-year-old millennial to occupy the throne in a father King Salman. 13

Human Rights ‘Ridiculous’ if Trump doesn’t back 2-state solution: Palestinian official Iraq top ‘no imported A senior Palestinian official said Monday estinians, in search of what he has labelled occupied West Bank. court rules to it would be “utterly ridiculous” if Donald the “ultimate deal”. “It would be utterly ridiculous if Trump commodity’ in Iran Trump did not commit to the two-state But Palestinian officials have grown in- doesn’t eventually say that,” Nabil Shaath, suspend Kurdish solution, ahead of a meeting between creasingly frustrated at the failure of Trump’s a senior Abbas adviser, told journalists in MNA — Head of Iran’s High Council the U.S. president and Mahmoud Ab- team to commit to the two-state solution, the Ramallah when asked about the two-state referendum of Human Rights Mohammad Javad bas. focus of international diplomacy since at least solution. Larijiani said human rights is not an Trump is due to meet Abbas on Wednes- the early 1990s. “What the hell are we negotiating? We Iraq’s top court has ordered the sus- “imported commodity” in Iran, rather day before the Palestinian president’s address Members of Israeli Prime Minister Benja- are negotiating a diplomatic accord between pension of the Kurdistan Regional it is founded on “Islamic rationality”. to the United Nations General Assembly the min Netanyahu’s government openly oppose Abu Mazen and Netanyahu where they can Government’s (KRG) planned referen- Head of High Council of Human Rights same day. a two-state solution, while the premier him- meet each other? No,” he added, referring to dum on independence. Mohammad Javad Larijani made the re- The U.S. leader has been seeking to re- self has indicated in recent months that he Abbas by his Arabic nickname. The Supreme Court declared on marks in a meeting with visiting Belgian start peace talks between Israel and the Pal- plans no “uprooting” of settlements in the (Source: AFP) Monday the ruling, which calls for all Chamber chairman Siegfried Bracke and preparations for the September 25 his accompanied delegation on Sunday in vote to be halted, following a review Tehran. Spanish police confiscate Catalan referendum material of multiple “requests to stop the ref- During the course of the meeting, the Spanish police have seized more than a mil- the illegal referendum, as well as printing who have agreed to help stage the referen- erendum”. two sides discussed democracy in secu- lion pro-referendum posters and pamphlets plates, have been used so far,” it added. dum on September 14. “The supreme court has issued lar liberal governments and democracy in Catalonia, according to government offi- Catalonia’s regional government plans to Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, has the order to suspend organizing the based on Islamic rationality. cials. hold a vote on independence on October 1, urged people not to participate in the vote. referendum set for September 25 Other matters such as freedom of Authorities claimed the 1.3 million prints, despite Spain’s Constitutional Court having “If anyone urges you to go to a polling ... until it examines the complaints speech, egalitarianism, the right to have a which included about 700,000 leaflets pro- ruled the ballot illegal on the basis it defies station, don’t go because the referendum it has received over this plebiscite lawyer, the issues of death penalty, drugs moting a “yes” vote in the region’s planned the nation’s constitutional decree declaring can’t take place, it would be an absolutely being unconstitutional,” it said in a and ‘retaliation in kind’ were discussed and vote on independence, from a warehouse Spain indivisible. illegal act,” he said on September 13. statement. compared between the two government near Barcelona on Sunday. Ada Colau, Barcelona’s mayor, criticized Catalonia, a region of 7.5 million people Haider al-Abadi, Iraq’s prime minis- systems. “The proceedings were carried out dur- Madrid’s response to the crisis during a with its own language and culture, accounts ter, had previously demanded the sus- The Iranian offical pointed out that the ing the morning of today [Sunday] and are pro-referendum meeting, attended by more for about 20 percent of Spain’s economic pension of the referendum. HR council adheres to and improves on the result of investigations carried out by the than 700 mayors from across Catalonia, on output and has significant powers over mat- At least three legislators have filed human rights and it is tasked with support- Civil Guard of Catalonia for the localization Saturday. ters such as education, healthcare and wel- complaints against the planned vote, ing and empowering non-profit organiza- of materials that promote the referendum “It’s a disgrace that we have a government fare. a parliamentary source told Reuters tions related to human rights. suspended by the Constitutional Court,” the that is incapable of dialogue and instead About 49.4 percent of Catalans are against News Agency. Larijani further expressed his concern interior ministry said in a statement. dedicates itself to pursuing and intimidating independence, while 41.1 percent are in fa- “We have received several com- over Islamophobia in the West and said “This is the largest intervention of this ille- mayors and the media,” he said. vor, according to a poll commissioned by the plaints and this is why we decided to this approach is not inconsistent with the gal material made so far. Altogether, almost Spain’s state prosecutor ordered a crimi- Catalonian government in July. suspend the referendum,” said Ayas al- fundamentals of Western democracy. one and a half million materials to promote nal investigation into the 712 Catalan mayors (Source: agencies) Samouk, a court spokesman. Belgian Chamber chairman, for his The KRG, which governs the part, said his country needs to get better semi-autonomous Kurdish region in acquainted with Iran’s experiences, and northern Iraq, has said a pro-inde- went on to describe the meeting as a pos- pendence vote would not trigger an itive turning point. He expressed optimism immediate secession. that these talks could paint a better picture Massoud Barzani, president of the of the judicial system of Iran. Christians in KRG, said a “yes” result would instead Stressing that some political inclinations kick-start “serious discussions” with promote Islamophobia, Siegfried Bracke Tehran celebrate Baghdad. added “people are not interested in such Iraqi PM demands suspension propaganda; for instance, an anti-Islam the rite of of Kurdish independence referendum party in the parliament with more than Meantime, Iraqi Prime Minister 150 members managed to secure only Exaltation of Haider al-Abadi has formally demand- three seats.” ed suspension of the upcoming Kurd- “We believe that different religions can ish independence referendum amid coexist peacefully in one country and our Holy Cross the central government’s strong op- government fully respects Islam and Mus- position to the planned vote. A multitude of Armenians celebrated lims,” he added. UN’s Guterres urges Kurds in on Sunday, September 17, the rite of Iraq to scrap referendum the Exaltation of the Holy Cross held The development follows as the Unit- TEHRAN TIMES in Tehran’s Holy Cross Chapel, at the Iran’s Leading International Daily Jenya Abadian ed Nations Secretary-General Antonio Ararat Sports Complex. Guterres has also urged Kurds in Iraq to Advertising Dept In the Christian liturgical calendar, scrap plans to hold a referendum on in- there are several different rituals of dependence later this month, arguing it the cross, all of which commemorate would detract from the fight against the Tel:021 -430 51 450 the cross used in the crucifixion of Je- Tehran Times/ Tehran Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ [email protected] sus Christ. Daesh) terrorist outfit. 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Violation of nuclear deal will be Iran Air Force ready to airlift more aid to Rohingya refugees detrimental to the world, Salehi warns Ali Akbar Salehi, the director of the Atom- bution to this end. ic Energy Organization of Iran, warned on Dear Colleagues, POLITICS TEHRAN — The Islamic Republic of Monday that a violation of the 2015 nu- Success in achieving global nuclear deskIran Air Force (IRIAF) on Monday an- clear deal will be detrimental to not only security, first and foremost, calls for the nounced readiness to airlift another humanitarian con- its signatories but the entire international effective compliance of nuclear-weapon signment to Bangladesh for the displaced Rohingya community. states with their obligations under NPT, people, ISNA reported. “Any action or measure to weaken or including through desisting discrimina- In a statement, the IRIAF said its Boeing 747 will deliv- nullify the provisions of the nuclear deal, tory approaches and policies. We have er another shipment containing food, medical and sani- under any pretext or politically-motivat- always believed, as a matter of principle, tary items to the Rohingya Muslims. ed and self-serving excuses, will certainly that meaningful promotion of global and On Saturday, Iran sent a 40-ton humanitarian aid to undermine and jeopardize this historic regional peace and stability hinges, inter Bangladesh, where tens of thousands of Rohingya Mus- achievement, not only to the detriment of alia, on the strengthening of the nonpro- lims are stranded after fleeing the ongoing violence and its participants, but in fact to that of the liferation regime. To accomplish this task, ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. entire international community,” he said the necessity for creating a nuclear weap- during his speech at the seasonal Inter- on-free-zone in the Middle East ties well France: All signs national Atomic Energy Agency General into the global and regional campaign Conference in Vienna, Austria. ever since in exerting pressure on the show Iran respecting Following is full text of his speech pub- Israeli Regime to put an end to its ille- nuclear deal lished by IRNA: gitimate nuclear weapons program and It is a distinct pleasure to join all of adhere to the NPT. you for the 61st Session of the General Excellencies, Conference, this year, a Green Meeting, a Regarding nuclear safety, we strongly POLITICS TEHRAN — French Foreign Minister great, timely, and future-looking practical believe in the imperative of strengthening desk Jean-Yves Le Drian has said his coun- idea. At the outset, I would like to seize the relevant safety standards as a matter of try is “vigilant” about Iran’s compliance with its nuclear the opportunity to congratulate you, Ex- high priority. In this regard, we have already agreement, adding “all signs are that it’s respecting its cellency Mrs. Maria Collinson, for your “The necessity for creating a nuclear weapon- achieved considerable advancement. For commitments,” Bloomberg reported on Monday. deserved election to the presidency of free-zone in the Middle East ties well into example, our Bushehr Power Plant has been Tearing up the accord would be a blow to efforts to the Conference. the global and regional campaign ever since promoted on the WANO safety assessment limit nuclear proliferation, and “we are trying to convince It is also a pleasure to see H.E. Mr. Yukiya scale. Having already embarked on enhanc- President (Donald) Trump of the pertinence of this view,” Amano re-elected for another term to lead in exerting pressure on the Israeli Regime to ing capabilities of the Iran Nuclear Regula- Le Drian said at a press conference in New York. the Agency. We wish him every success and put an end to its illegitimate nuclear weapons tory Authority project, including the estab- Iran and six world powers signed the nuclear deal, as always assure him of full cooperation, to program and adhere to the NPT.” lishment of a nuclear safety center in Iran officially known as the JCPOA, on July 14, 2015. It went effectively discharge his quite heavy, diffi- with international cooperation, plans are into effect on January 16, 2016. cult, and challenging responsibilities. created the necessary basis for actual en- ed and self-serving excuses, will certainly under way to develop a reliable hub for re- I would also like to welcome Grenada gagement in mutual and trilateral fruitful undermine and jeopardize this historic gional cooperation in this field. Additionally, Explosive device as a new member of the IAEA. cooperation with both developed and achievement, not only to the detriment of it is my pleasure to announce that recently Madam President, developing international partners, and in its participants, but in fact to that of the the bill of accession to the ‘Joint Convention discovered in The General Conference as a high- the framework of IAEA technical cooper- entire international community. I would on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management Najafabad est policy making body provides an op- ation programs. also find it necessary to allude, though and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste portune annual occasion to direct the Excellencies, very briefly, to the recent American de- Management’ is brought before the par- agency to “accelerate and enlarge the One of the most important aspects of marche at the Agency with a host of un- liament for ratification after having recently contribution of the atomic energy to all our activities relates to the implemen- justifiable peculiar demands with regard been approved by the government. POLITICS TEHRAN — On Sunday night Iranian tation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of to the verification of our strictly peaceful desksecurity forces defused a bomb that peace, health and prosperity throughout On a somewhat closely-related is- the world”. It is within the framework of Action (JCPOA) since it went into effect in nuclear programme far beyond the pur- sue, ‘we are of the view that measures was found in a central city, Mehr news agency reported. early 2016. As confirmed by the Agency’s view of JCPOA and its collectively nego- The explosive device was found planted underneath this brief, overall picture of the Agency’s to strengthen nuclear security should not Major Programme and Work that I would periodic reports, Iran has honestly and tiated and well-defined provisions. The hamper international cooperation in the a vehicle in the city of Najafabad, near the central city of in good faith fulfilled all its commitments American administration’s overtly hostile Isfahan. like to present to you and the General field of peaceful nuclear activities and Conference our outlook and activities in under the deal. It is worth mentioning attitude and actual foot-dragging pol- promotion of peaceful uses of energy’, Seifollah Rashidzadeh, a commander with the Islam- that the nuclear activities of my country icies and measures aimed at undermin- ic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said the IRGC bomb a number of selected areas. including technical cooperation program. Within the framework of pursuing a are carried out under utmost transpar- ing the nuclear deal and blocking Iran’s In the meantime, as a victim of cyber ter- disposal squad removed the bomb from the area be- ency, including numerous inspections legitimate benefits from its full and un- cause of security risks. peaceful nuclear program, Iran has re- rorist attacks against our nuclear installa- lied on its developing infrastructure and and complementary access to its nuclear impeded implementation are contrary to tions, ‘we believe that the most effective The city is secure and everything is under control, he sites. Having no time to delve into an in- the letter and spirit of JCPOA. We remain added. technology as well as on its young and mechanism tackling such terrorist threats highly-talented manpower, both for pow- depth analysis of the unacceptable diffi- confident that the Agency, and for that entails strong international cooperation’. er generation and other peaceful appli- culties and obstacles created by one of matter, the Director-General, will resist Likewise, ‘we are also seriously concerned Iranian, French cations, including health and agriculture. the participants on the full implementa- such unacceptable demands and contin- with the question of nuclear security con- ambassadors Having introduced nuclear energy in the tion of JCPOA, I merely suffice to draw ue to execute the Agency’s irreplaceable sequences ensuing from terrorist threats. country’s energy mix with the full utiliza- your attention to the fact that, the integ- technical supervisory role with strict ob- It is therefore imperative to strengthen discuss Kurdistan tion of the first unit of the Bushehr Power rity of the nuclear deal must be adhered jectivity, fairness and impartiality, includ- the existing mechanisms and measures at vote Plant, plans are already underway to in- to and preserved by all its participants. All ing protection of sensitive, technical and the national and international levels. crease the share through the construction participants, without any exception, must industrial information attained through Alongside the sovereign right of POLITICS TEHRAN — Top Iranian and French of second and third units – also an impor- be held accountable in this regard; each inspections. The Agency’s success in this member-states, strengthening the role of deskdiplomats to Baghdad met on Monday tant step towards reduction of greenhouse and every party must faithfully comply important and critical challenge will ben- the Agency should go hand in hand with to exchange views about the issue of Iraqi Kurdistan re- gas emissions at the national level. In ad- with its commitments in order to keep it efit everybody and enhance its interna- ensuring full respect for the responsibili- gion’s independence referendum. dition, our radiopharmaceutical products intact, on track, and operational. tional credibility. Serious and active coop- ties of the national nuclear security which In their meeting at Tehran’s embassy in Baghdad, Ira- are being exported to the neighboring Any action or measure to weaken or eration of other participants to the deal, naturally rests entirely with the state. nian Ambassador Iraj Masjedi and his French counter- and remote countries in recent years. Also nullify the provisions of the nuclear deal, and in a larger sense, the members of the Madam President, part Bruno Aubert also held talks about other regional as a result of a serious campaign against under any pretext or politically-motivat- IAEA, will indeed make a positive contri- I conclude on a note of paying trib- issues, IRNA reported. the plight of cancer, thanks to the techni- “The American administration’s overtly hostile ute to the valuable work of the Agency Iran and France have voiced opposition to the inde- cal cooperation with the Agency, Iran has towards contributing to the promotion of pendence referendum, saying it could lead to new con- made great valuable achievements. My attitude and actual foot-dragging policies and prosperity, development and welfare for flicts in the Middle East. country is looking forward for an extend- measures aimed at undermining the nuclear humanity. We look forward to a day when Masjedi also met with Turkey’s ambassador to Bagh- ed cooperation in this field. deal and blocking Iran’s legitimate benefits the motto of peaceful use of nuclear en- dad late on Sunday to discuss the referendum. Moreover, the achievement of signifi- ergy for all and the use of nuclear weap- cant advances of my country in various from its full and unimpeded implementation on for none, is universally recognized and Iranian officials fields of fission and fusion technology has are contrary to the letter and spirit of JCPOA.” materialized. to meet on Washington’s nuclear Amano: Iran subject to most robust ‘New U.S. sanctions in line with non-compliance nuclear verification regime Iranophobia project’

POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Akbar Velayati, a top POLITICS Yukiya Amano, chief ar-related commitments under the Joint POLITICS TEHRAN — Irani- “Wrong and unfounded accusations of desk desk deskadvisor to the Supreme Leader, said on of the United Na- Comprehensive Plan of Action.” an Foreign Ministry cyber-attacks against the Iranian citizens Monday the supervisory board of BARJAM (the Persian tions’ International Atomic Energy He also said, “The Agency continues spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on are contrary to the individuals’ basic rights acronym for the nuclear deal) will hold a session on U.S. Agency, reconfirmed on Monday that to verify the non-diversion of nuclear Sunday that the U.S. Treasury move in to access the cyber area,” he added. government’s non-compliance with the deal after Presi- Iran is implementing its commitments material declared by Iran under its Safe- imposing new sanctions on a number of Warning Washington about its contin- dent Rouhani returns home from New York. under the July 2015 nuclear deal, guards Agreement. Evaluations regard- Iranian individuals is in line with the Irano- ued hostile policies against Iran, the For- Velayati said Iran will make an appropriate response known as the Joint Comprehensive ing the absence of undeclared nuclear phobia project. eign Ministry official advised U.S. officials to any measure that Washington takes against the nu- Plan of Action. material and activities in Iran continue.” Qassemi’s comments referred to new to be aware of the “wrong” and “defeated” clear accord. “The nuclear-related commitments Also, speaking at the seasonal cyber-related sanctions on seven Iranian policies and avoid behaving “unwisely”. He also rejected the possibility of any bilateral meet- undertaken by Iran under the JCPOA meeting of the IAEA Board of Gover- individuals and two entities by the U.S. The new U.S. sanctions freeze any ing between Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are being implemented. Iran is now nors in Vienna on September 11, Ama- Treasury on Thursday. assets of the sanctioned individuals and and his American counterpart Rex Tillerson on the side- subject to the world’s most robust nu- no said that Iran is honoring its nuclear “The recent action of the U.S. is simply companies and prohibit American citizens lines of the annual UN summit in New York. clear verification regime,” he said in his commitments. in line with continuation of the anti-Iran and residents and U.S. companies from statement to sixty-first regular session He said the body under his lead- policy of Iranophobia by the officials of doing business with them. Resistance front of IAEA general conference. ership is continuing to “implement the White House,” he explained. The sanctions were imposed at a time “Since the last General Conference, the Additional Protocol in Iran” which The official described the U.S. act as when U.S. President Donald Trump must on verge of final we have continued to verify and monitor allows surprise inspection of nuclear contrary to international law and regula- decide in October whether to certify that victory over the implementation by Iran of its nucle- sites. tions. Iran is complying with the agreement. terrorism: envoy Rouhani: U.S. will pay high price if Trump scraps nuclear deal POLITICS TEHRAN —The Iranian ambassador to POLITICS desk Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said but at the same time it will generally decrease and cut Damascus said on Sunday that the re- deskon Monday that America would pay a away and chip away at international trust placed in the sistance front and the armed forces of regional states are high price if U.S. President Donald Trump makes good Unites States of America.” on the verge of final victory against terrorism. on his threats to scrap the Iran nuclear deal. The U.S. extended sanctions relief for Iran last week “The only goal of Iran and the resistance front is vic- Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNN’s as part of the 2015 nuclear agreement, which Trump tory, we just think about victory,” Javad Torkabadi said in Christiane Amanpour in New York, Rouhani said: “Exiting has described as “the worst deal ever,” but this is mainly a TV interview. such an agreement would carry a high cost for the United procedural. He emphasized that those who are supporting the States of America, and I do not believe Americans would The real test comes in October when Trump will rightful will finally emerge victorious even if they are in be willing to pay such a high cost for something that will decide whether to certify that Iran is complying with minority. be useless for them.” the agreement. If he does not, Congress has 60 days “We proved to the world that we are persistent, strong Rouhani said such an action by the Trump to decide whether to reimpose sanctions waived under and righteous,” the diplomat added. administration “will yield no results for the United States the deal. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 INTERNATIONAL Rohingya refugees tell of new violence; call for Myanmar sanctions Korean peninsula draws Rohingya Muslims fleeing a Myanmar range of military drills in military offensive arrived in Bangladesh show of force against on Monday with fresh accounts of vio- lence and arson as a rights group called N. Korea for sanctions and an arms embargo to stop what the United Nations has brand- ed ethnic cleansing. The latest wave of violence in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State began on Aug. 25, when Rohingya insurgents attacked police posts and an army camp, killing about 12 people. The Myanmar military response has sent more than 410,000 Rohingya Mus- lims fleeing to Bangladesh, escaping what they and rights monitors say is a cam- paign aimed at driving out the Muslim population. Buddhist-majority Myanmar rejects that, saying its forces are carrying out The United States military staged bombing drills with clearance operations against the insur- South Korea over the Korean peninsula and Russia and gents of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation China began naval exercises ahead of a United Nations Army, which claimed responsibility for the General Assembly meeting on Tuesday where North Ko- August attacks and smaller raids in Oc- rea’s nuclear threat is likely to loom large. tober. curity and there is little sympathy for the in support of Suu Kyi’s campaign for de- Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, but police The flurry of military drills came after Pyongyang fired Hundreds of refugees travelled by Rohingya in a country where the end of mocracy. Its response was to forge closer kept them well back. another mid-range ballistic missile over Japan on Friday small boats to an island on the southern- army rule has unleashed old animosities. ties with China. Two Rohingya children, woman and the reclusive North conducted its sixth and most pow- most point of Bangladesh late on Sunday The military campaign in Rakhine State U.S.-Myanmar ties have been improv- killed in aid stampede erful nuclear test on Sept. 3 in defiance of United Nations and on Monday, telling of persecution has wide support. ing since the military began withdrawing Meantime, at least two children and sanctions and other international pressure. and destruction. Suu Kyi is due to speak to the nation from government in 2011, and paved the one woman were killed in a stampede A pair of U.S. B-1B bombers and four F-35 jets flew Many of the refugees have spoken of on Tuesday about a crisis the United way for a 2015 election won by Suu Kyi’s as clothes were being handed out to Ro- from Guam and Japan and joined four South Korean F-15K ethnic Rakhine Buddhist civilians joining States has called a “defining moment” for party. hingya refugees in Bangladesh, according fighters in the latest drill, South Korea’s defense ministry the Myanmar army in its attacks. Myan- her country. A Trump administration official said the to aid agencies. said. mar denies that and has blamed Muslim U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of violence made it harder to build warmer “Two children and one woman were The joint drills were being conducted “two to three insurgents for the violence. State Patrick Murphy is due in Myanmar ties, and there would likely be some “eas- killed in a stampede during an unauthor- times a month these days”, Defense Minister Song Young- Myanmar has largely sealed the area this week. ing” in the short term, but he did not ex- ized clothing distribution on the road in moo told a parliamentary hearing on Monday. off to aid workers and reporters. He will travel to Sittwe, the capital of pect a return to sanctions. Balukhali Pan Bazar area. Despite local In Beijing, the official Xinhua news agency said China Rights groups say satellite images Rakhine State, to meet government of- In a rare expression of support for the regulations and the control room estab- and Russia began naval drills off the Russian far eastern show about 80 smoldering Muslim vil- ficials and representatives of different Rohingya from within Myanmar, a group lished, private distributions of relief items port of Vladivostok, not far from the Russia-North Korea lages. They have seen evidence of arson communities, including Rohingya, but from the Karen ethnic minority, called for continue,” said a September 15 report border. attacks on Buddhist villagers, but on a he is not seeking to travel to the conflict the military to halt its operations and for by the Inter Sector Coordination Group Those drills were being conducted between Peter the much smaller scale. zone in northern Rakhine State. economic sanctions to be considered. (ISCG). Great Bay, near Vladivostok, and the southern part of the Most of the new arrivals said their vil- Human Rights Watch said Myanmar For decades of army battled auton- Meanwhile, though several well-mean- Sea of Okhotsk, to the north of Japan, it said. lages had been torched on Friday, when security forces were disregarding world omy-seeking Karen insurgents that sent ing Bangladeshi citizens have offered their The drills are the second part of China-Russian naval huge clouds of smoke were clearly seen condemnation and the time had come to more than 100,000 villagers fleeing to support to the Rohingya, the ISCG said at exercises this year, the first part of which was staged in over Myanmar. impose tougher measures that the gen- Thailand. The insurgents have now made least six people from the local commu- the Baltic in July. Xinhua did not directly link the drills to About a million Rohingya lived in Ra- erals could not ignore. peace. nity who identified themselves as camp current tension over North Korea. khine State until the recent violence. Most It called for governments to “impose Bangladesh is struggling to cope with managers at another location had been China and Russia have repeatedly called for a peaceful face draconian travel restrictions and are travel bans and asset freezes on securi- the refugees and aid workers fear people charging refugees for land and shelter. solution and talks to resolve the issue. denied citizenship in a country where ty officials implicated in serious abuses; could die due to a lack of food, shelter The perpetrators were arrested and On Sunday, however, U.S. Ambassador to the United many Buddhists regard them as illegal expand existing arms embargoes to in- and water, given the numbers. jailed for 15 days, the report said. Nations Nikki Haley said the UN Security Council had run immigrants from Bangladesh. clude all military sales, assistance, and Bangladesh has said all refugees must ISCG, which comprises various hu- out of options on containing North Korea’s nuclear pro- Myanmar government leader and No- cooperation; and place a ban on financial go home. Myanmar has said it will take manitarian agencies, said 326,700 peo- gram and the United States might have to turn the matter bel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has faced transactions with key ... military-owned back those who can verify their citizen- ple in makeshift and spontaneous set- over to the Pentagon. a barrage of criticism from abroad for not enterprises”. ship. tlements in Bangladesh were in need of In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu stopping the violence. For years, the United States and West- Several thousand protesters tried to emergency shelter. Kang said the most pressing task was for all parties to en- The military remains in charge of se- ern allies imposed sanctions on Myanmar march on the Myanmar embassy in the (Source: agencies) force the latest UN resolutions on North Korea fully, rather than “deliberately complicating the issue”. Certain Western states still back terror groups in Syria: Assad Military threats from various parties have not promoted a resolution to the issue, he said. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says “certain Western al-Muallem met with the Italian delegation, stressing that “This is not beneficial to a final resolution to the penin- countries” still support, directly or indirectly, terrorist his country would continue fighting terrorism until the sula nuclear issue,” Lu told a daily news briefing. organizations and groups in Syria despite the fact that entire Syria was cleared of terrorists. The top diplomat U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed that North Ko- this wrong policy has already backfired on their govern- also stated that his country supported all efforts to find rea will never be able to threaten the United States with a ments and people. a political solution to the crisis through dialogue among nuclear-tipped ballistic missile. The Syrian president made the comments in a meet- the Syrians without any external interference. Asked about Trump’s warning last month that the North ing with an Italian parliamentary delegation headed Different foreign-backed terrorist groups have been Korean threat to the United States would be met with “fire by Mario Romani, a member of the Senate of the Re- wreaking havoc in Syria since 2011. The Damascus gov- and fury”, Haley said: “It was not an empty threat.” public, in the capital Damascus on Sunday, Syria’s offi- ernment has repeatedly blamed certain foreign coun- Washington has also asked China to do more to rein in cial news agency, SANA, reported. tries for the spread of the devastating militancy. its neighbor and ally, while Beijing has urged the United President Assad said such visits by the European del- The government controls main urban centers in the States to refrain from making threats against the North. egations to Syria, with the aim of getting acquainted west of the country and has recaptured much of the east- Fuel prices surge with the facts on the ground, could play a significant role ern parts of Syria from Takfiri terrorists in recent months. The UN Security Council unanimously passed a in raising the awareness of the Western public opinion Syrian forces managed to reach Dayr al-Zawr’s U.S.-drafted resolution a week ago mandating tougher about the realities of the crisis in Syria and expose the provincial capital of the same name, which lies on the blatant violation of international and humanitarian laws. new sanctions against Pyongyang that included banning lies told by the Western mass media in this regard. western bank of the Euphrates River, earlier this month, The Italian delegation, for its part, expressed solidarity textile imports and capping crude and petrol supply. The Italian delegation had visited a number of areas breaking a nearly three-year-old siege by the Islamic with the Syrian people in their war against foreign-spon- North Korea on Monday called the resolution “the most in Syria in an attempt to obtain firsthand experience of State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist group sored terrorism, acknowledging that the militancy in the vicious, unethical and inhumane act of hostility to physi- what the situation was like in the war-torn country before on government-held parts of the city. country had started to affect a number of European cally exterminate” its people, system and government. meeting with the Syrian president. On September 12, Lieutenant General Aleksandr states by posing a real threat to the security, safety and “The increased moves of the U.S. and its vassal forces Assad said such awareness-raising steps taken by the Lapin, the Russian chief of staff in Syria, announced that future of their citizens. to impose sanctions and pressure... will only increase our international community could pave the way for lifting Damascus was in control of 85 percent of the country’s Members of the visiting Italian delegation also assert- pace toward the ultimate completion of the state nuclear the economic siege that has increased the suffering of territories. He added that Syrian forces must now purge ed that they would spare no effort to convey the realities force,” the North’s foreign ministry spokesman said in a the Syrian nation and negatively affected their livelihood. terrorists from the country’s remaining 15 percent, which of the crisis in Syria back to the European country and to statement carried by its official KCNA news agency. The Syrian president also described the embargo im- amounts to 27,000 square kilometers. the rest of the continent. Gasoline and diesel prices in the North have surged posed on his country by “certain superpowers,” to be in (Source: SANA) Earlier in the day, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid since the latest nuclear test in anticipation of a possible oil ban, according to market data analyzed by Reuters on Monday. Turkey sends tanks near Iraqi and Syrian borders The international community must remain united and Turkey has launched a military drill featuring tanks It is the second time the Turkish military deploys the de-escalation zone to prevent “clashes between the enforce sanctions against North Korea after its repeated close to the Iraqi border and dispatched military ve- military reinforcements to the border with Syria where government and the opposition forces and any viola- launch of ballistic missiles, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo hicles to its southern border with Syria where several an expanding grip of the United States-backed Kurd- tions of the truce.” Abe said in an editorial in the New York Times on Sunday. warring sides are jockeying for position in the face of ish militants on nearby territories is raising alarms in On Saturday, the Syrian government welcomed the Such tests were in violation of Security Council resolu- the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) Turkey. agreement but stressed that it would not grant Turkish tions and showed that North Korea could now target the terrorist outfit losses. The Turkish army sent first aid trucks and military ve- military forces authorization to stay in Syria. United States or Europe, he wrote. The military exercises began in the Silopi-Habur re- hicles as well as heavy equipment to the same location Idlib Province is largely under the control of for- Abe also said diplomacy and dialogue would not work gion in the country’s south, close to northern Iraq, a on Saturday, according to the agency said. eign-sponsored and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militant with North Korea and concerted pressure by the entire week before Iraq’s Kurdish region holds a vote on pos- Anadolu noted that a third convoy of armored vehi- group, which was formerly known as al-Nusra Front. international community was essential to tackle the threats sible secession. cles was heading to Hatay’s Reyhanli district, where Tur- In August 2016, Turkey began a unilateral military posed by the north and its leader, Kim Jong Un. Ankara has warned that the vote could risk “civil war” key’s Cilvegozu border gate with Syria is located. intervention in northern Syria, code-named Operation However, the official China Daily argued on Monday and “have a cost” if it goes ahead but Iraqi Kurds have The Syrian government is wary of the outside play- Euphrates Shield, sending tanks and warplanes across that sanctions should be given time to bite and that the said they would still hold the non-binding referendum ers carving out zones of influence through local proxies. the border, which Damascus denounced as a breach of door must be left open to talks. on September 25. The U.S. has already brought together a ragtag group of its sovereignty. Pyongyang has launched dozens of missiles as it accel- Witnesses in the region, quoted by the French news mostly Kurdish militants and equipped them with heavy In March, Turkey announced that the operation had erates a weapons program designed to provide the ability agency AFP, said they saw around 100 military vehicles weapons. ended “successfully,” with the Syrian Kurdish People’s to target the United States with a powerful, nuclear-tipped deployed close to the Iraqi border, including tanks, in the Turkey, on the other hand, is supporting another Protection Units (YPG/Yekîneyên Parastina Gel) prevent- missile. early hours of Monday. group of militants who have taken a number of towns ed from conjoining its territories. It says such programs are needed as a deterrent A Turkish military statement said, “Simultaneously in recent years. The YPG is part of a larger coalition of militants — the against invasion by the United States, which has 28,500 with this exercise, counter-terrorism operations in the Last week, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, which together so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — which has troops stationed in South Korea. On Saturday, it said it border region continue.” act as guarantor states in peace talks for Syria, agreed been engaged in operations to capture the Syrian city aimed to reach an “equilibrium” of military force with the Syria deployment on the details of a “de-escalation zone” in Syria’s north- of Raqqah. United States. Turkey also sent about 80 military vehicles, includ- western province of Idlib, which borders Turkey, during Ankara has on multiple occasions expressed its deep The United States and South Korea are technically still ing tanks, to the Iskenderun district of the southeastern resolution talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana. concern about the advance of YPG forces in northern at war with North Korea because the 1950-53 Korean con- province of Hatay as part of reinforcements for forces The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday observ- Syria. flict ended with a truce and not a peace treaty. stationed along the border. ers from the three countries will be deployed around (Source: agencies) (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 Oil Ministry announces Iran Plast foreign exhibitors’ priorities participation up 21%

By Mahnaz Abdi 1 Completion of loading and export facilities in the port city of Jask in the southern Hormozgan Province was TEHRAN — The number of foreign exhibitors has in- another priority for the ministry. creased 21 percent in the 11th International Exhibition Jask Oil Terminal will have the capacity of storing up to of Plastics, Rubber, Machinery and Equipment of Iran 30 million barrels and exporting 1 million barrels per day (Iran Plast 2017) from the previous edition of the event, of crude oil once completed. Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Manag- In August, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh put at- ing Director Marziyeh Shahdaei announced in a press traction of investment for development of Iran’s shared oil conference on Monday. and gas fields as the main priority of the ministry. She put the number of foreigners to attend this year’s Completing development phases of South Pars (the exhibition at 524 and the number of Iranian participants huge gas field Iran shares with Qatar in the Persian Gulf), at 600 with 39 percent growth from the figure of past rebuilding and renovating oil installations, second leap in year. the petrochemical output, and no natural gas flaring were The official also said that the number of Iran Plast his next top priorities. foreign participants has risen 100 percent from the ninth edition, i.e. in the post-sanction era. The event, which will be held at the Tehran Perma- nent International Fairgrounds from September 24 to Ukraine taps market for 27, is one of the most important industrial exhibitions $2.5bn with 15-year bond in Iran and one of the most significant plastic exhibitions in the Middle East, the NPC managing director high- issue lighted. Companies from Germany, China, India, Cyprus, Tai- Ukraine is set to price its first dollar-denominated bond wan, France, Italy, South Korea, Finland, Switzerland, since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, with strong Austria, Serbia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Thailand, Czech investor demand for high-yielding sovereign debt buoy- Republic, Greece, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, ing the deal. United Arab Emirates, Japan and Turkey will showcase The nation is seeking around $1bn of new money in their latest products and achievements in plastics and services, creating a more variable market, attracting ‘Developing downstream industries to be 1st addition to replacing $1.6bn of debt set to mature in 2019 rubber industry during the four-day exhibit. foreign investment, receiving modern technology and in region’ and 2020 with a new issue maturing in 15 years’ time, ac- ‘Post-sanction opportunity to boost foreign the most important one increasing job creation in the Elsewhere in her remarks, the NPC managing direc- cording to those with knowledge of the deal. exhibitors’ petrochemical industry as the main objectives of the ex- tor put the country’s petrochemical capacity at 60 mil- The new paper will amortise over the final two years Shahdaei said the NPC has taken the post-sanction hibition. lion tons and mentioned achieving the first place in the of its lifetime, in order to avoid a single bullet repayment. opportunity to boost the number of foreign participants As the petrochemical industry itself does not create region in terms of the value of petrochemical products Initial pricing indications have set the yield at around in Iran Plast and in this due the company has benefitted many jobs, completing the chain of value and devel- as the outlook plan of NPC. 7.75 per cent, and books are now open with final pricing from a famous global organizer for organizing this exhi- oping the downstream industries can pave the way for “To reach this goal, we should develop our down- set to take place later today. bition to attract more foreign exhibitors. promotion of job creation in this industry, the official stream sections and also set up the new units as some One banker involved said that “market conditions are She mentioned promoting exports of products and commented. complementary chains”, she remarked. very positive for issuers lower down on the credit spec- trum”. “Investors are being forced to search for pastures new, that has been the theme so far this year,” he said. PwC to help Iranian companies invest in other countries ECONOMY TEHRAN — Pricewaterhouse- ing foreign investors feel confident about en- Ukraine is one of a series of infrequent sovereign issuers desk that have sought to tap the markets recently. Coopers’ (PwC) Auditor and tering Iranian market, while it is vital for Ira- Last week the Kingdom of Bahrain saw $15bn of de- Tax Consultant Jens Rönnberg, in a meeting nian firms to boost financial transparency. mand for $3bn of bonds, including 12-year paper that at Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, “In case of receiving the required permit, priced at 6.75 per cent. Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) on Monday, PwC will open an office in Tehran within three Iraq issued $1bn of five-year debt last month at a yield announced that the multinational professional to six months to collaborate with Iranian com- of 6.75 per cent. Belarus raised $1.4bn in a dual-maturity services network is ready to support Iranian panies on providing services,” the PwC official five- and 10-year tranche bond two months ago: the 10- companies to invest in different countries, TC- announced. year tranche was priced at 7.625 per cent. CIMA Public Relations Department announced. As TCCIMA quoted its head Masoud Khan- Earlier this month Tajikistan raised $500m of 10-year During the meeting, held between PwC’s sari addressing the same meeting, as of the im- money priced at 7.125 per cent. representatives and Iranian entrepreneurs and plementation of nuclear deal with the six world Ukraine is rated B- by S&P and Fitch and Caa2 by officials from banking, stock exchange, and in- powers in January 2016, 200 foreign trade del- Moody’s. ternational commerce sectors, Rönnberg said egations have visited Iran to investigate invest- BNP Paribas, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs are acting that considering the fact that Iran is a large ing here. “Iran is a safe country with young and as bookrunners on the deal. Rothschild is acting as finan- country with a significant market, the major educated workforce and can be a good destina- cial adviser to the Ukraine ministry of finance. point under the current circumstances is mak- tion for foreign investors,” he said. (Source: The Financial Times) France should vigorously defend its euro zone reform proposals Tanzanian leader’s war Anybody investing in euro-denom- tutional changes, was spurned by the with Germany by establishing a leg- that she would take a look at French inated assets should know that the EU Commission last Wednesday, Sept. islative and executive control over ideas to see “whether the reforms for taxes puts economy in currency’s future, just as was the case 13, in a widely suspected, and highly the euro area, with common fiscal were needed” and “what to do with firing line with its origin, crucially depends on a probable, double act with Berlin. policy to run public debt, budget them.” French-German agreement — so far Indeed, one could see a diligent rush balances and the monetary union’s France now has Germany’s answer, on Germany’s terms. by Germany’s pro-government center- investment projects. dutifully delivered, in German, by the The latest such bargain is falling right media to highlight Berlin’s full sup- Paris could have seen that com- president of the EU Commission so that apart. An implied deal around French port of the EU Commission’s reform pro- ing. As soon as the French euro area Merkel does not have to bother with economic and political (i.e., structur- gram. reform proposals were announced minutiae in the run-up to Sept. 24 elec- al) reforms, demanded by Germany, That is a serious blow to French last spring, the German Chancellor tions. and France’s quest for eurozone insti- efforts to even out the playing field Angela Merkel issued a statement (Source: cnbc)

World central banks cannot ignore Gold slips as equities, dollar surge Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, ahead of Fed meeting says BIS The world’s central banks can’t sit back LONDON (Reuters) — Gold hit a two and and ignore the growth in cryptocur- a half week low on Monday as the dollar rose rencies as it could pose a risk to the ahead of a two-day Federal Reserve meeting stability of the financial system, accord- and as global equities surged. Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s deepening dispute with ing to the Bank for International Settle- The dollar hit an eight-week high companies he accuses of being tax cheats is rattling inves- ments (BIS). against the yen as data showing a pick up tors and dimming the allure of one of Africa’s fastest-growing It said central banks will need to in U.S. consumer prices increased bets that economies. figure out whether to issue a digi- the Fed could raise rates again in Decem- Since taking office in late 2015, Magufuli has been on tal currency and what its attributes ber. a drive to increase revenue from natural resources to help should be, though the decision is Also, investors expect the Fed will an- fund his industrialization plans. His administration has most pressing in countries like Swe- finance. nounce plans to start trimming its bal- Gold is highly sensitive to rising U.S. passed laws enabling it to renegotiate contracts and or- den where cash use is dwindling. To better understand the system, ance sheet at its meeting on Tuesday and interest rates, which increase the oppor- dered foreign mining firms to sell stakes on the local stock Institutions need to take into ac- the Dutch central bank has created Wednesday, a move that should support tunity cost of holding the non-yielding as- exchange to increase transparency. The authorities have count of not only privacy issues and its own cryptocurrency, albeit for in- the dollar. set, while boosting the dollar, in which it is hit Acacia Mining Plc with a $190 billion tax bill, curbed its efficiency gains in payment systems, ternal use only. World stocks hit a record high ahead of priced. exports and detained a senior employee, and seized gems but also economic, financial and US officials are exploring the mat- the Fed meeting, with investors favouring On the political front, investors largely and questioned staff from Petra Diamonds Ltd., alleging it monetary policy repercussions, the ter too, though in March Federal Re- risky assets to perceived safe havens like brushed aside concerns after a relatively hadn’t paid its dues. BIS said in its quarterly review. serve Governor Jerome Powell said gold. Spot gold was down 0.3 percent at quiet weekend in the Korean peninsula. “In his bid to do some good things like trying to reduce The analysis comes at the end of there were “significant policy issues” $1,314.41 an ounce by 1003 GMT. Earlier, U.S. Ambassador to the United Na- the level of corruption, President Magufuli has often taken a rough week for digital currencies, that needed further study, including gold hit $1,312.03, its lowest since Aug 31. tions Nikki Haley said on Sunday the U.N. steps that have actually gone outside of the formal rules,” with JPMorgan chief executive Jamie vulnerability to cyber-attack, privacy U.S. gold futures for December delivery Security Council has run out of options on Nic Cheeseman, professor of democracy at the University of Dimon calling bitcoin a “fraud” and and counterfeiting. fell 0.5 percent to $1,318.50. containing North Korea’s nuclear program Birmingham in the U.K., said by phone. “Even people I think China moving to crack down on do- According to the BIS, one option “Gold could fall below t$1,300 in the and the U.S. may have to turn the matter who have sympathy for his ends are starting to say that the mestic trading of cryptocurrencies. for central banks might be a currency short term but the question remains how over to the Pentagon. means of achieving them might do more harm than good. It But with bitcoin and others gain- available to the public, with only the people perceive the U.S. economy and Data showed speculators raised their is a very worrying situation.” ing in popularity as payment systems central bank able to issue units that the need for higher interest rates,” said Ole net long position in COMEX gold contracts Acacia, whose tax bill and related penalties equate to 180 go mobile and investors pour in would be directly convertible with Hansen, head of commodity strategy at for the ninth straight week, bringing it to a times its revenue last year, and Petra have denied wrongdo- money, central banks are beginning cash and reserves. Saxo Bank. one-year high in the week to Sept. 12 and ing and shuttered some of their operations in Tanzania until to delve into them and their under- There might be a greater risk of “At this stage there’s still not a strong leaving gold vulnerable to profit taking. the disputes are resolved. With Magufuli showing no signs lying blockchain technology, which bank runs, however, and commer- view the U.S. economy will accelerate. That Silver slipped 0.4 percent to $17.51 an of backing down, the closures may have an effect on tax in- promises to speed up clearing and cial lenders might face a shortage should keep interest rates at a manageable ounce, after earlier hitting its lowest since come, deter other investment and stifle an economy that the settlements. of deposits. Another question to be level and provide some support for gold.” Sept. 1. International Monetary Fund expects to expand an average At the Bank of England, Mark resolved would be the question of Investors currently put a December rate Platinum dipped 0.1 percent to of 6.7 percent a year until 2021. Carney has cited cryptocurrencies privacy. hike at less than a 50 percent probability in $966.30, while palladium gained 1.1 per- (Source: Bloomberg) as part of a potential “revolution” in (Source: Indepedent) the futures market. cent to $933.47. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 ENERGY 5 Oil markets firm on rising refinery IEA sees risk of volatile oil prices on weak upstream demand, falling U.S. rig count investment Oil markets were firm on Monday and The refinery restarts are occurring “as remained near multi-month highs signs emerge of stalling growth in the A dearth of new investment in oil production is stoking reached late last week as the number U.S. shale industry. The number of rigs a risk of tighter crude supply and unstable prices, even of U.S. rigs drilling for new production drilling for oil in the U.S. fell sharply last as demand growth is expected to slow over the next five fell and refineries continued to start up week,” ANZ said. years, according to a senior International Energy Agency after getting knocked out by Hurricane U.S. energy firms cut seven oil rigs in official. Harvey. the week to Sept. 15, bringing the to- The worldwide cushion of spare production capacity U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) tal count down to 749, the fewest since will shrink without further investment in exploration and crude futures were at $49.89 a barrel at June, energy services company Baker output, Neil Atkinson, the head of the IEA’s oil markets 0232 GMT, unchanged from their set- Hughes said on Friday. and industry division, said at a conference in Manama, tlement last Friday and still close to the Despite these signs of a tightening Bahrain. more than three-month high of $50.50 market, analysts warned that the distor- “There are still not enough signs of investment begin- briefly reached on Thursday. tions of the recent hurricanes made it ning to return, and that raises the risk of tightening of the Thomson Reuters technical analyst hard to identify more long-lasting sup- market in the next five years and a risk to the stability of Wang Tao said WTI was poised to break ply and demand fundamentals. oil prices,” he said Sunday. “There is at least a possibility of above $50 per barrel. “This week’s crude inventories data going back to the situation we had 10 years ago where oil “U.S. oil is poised to break resistance will almost certainly still show the distor- prices were very, very high at a time when demand was at $50.43 per barrel, as suggested by an tions of Harvey and Irma and significant growing.” inverted head-and-shoulders, the wave increases may be looked at by traders The IEA, which advises most major economies on en- pattern and a Fibonacci projection anal- as outlier data,” said Jeffrey Halley, sen- ergy policy, increased its estimate for demand growth in ysis,” he said. ior market analyst at futures brokerage 2017 by 1.7 percent, it said Wednesday in a report. Atkin- Brent crude futures, the benchmark OANDA. son said the pace of growth will slow but possibly from for oil prices outside the United States, the market. Refineries are also reporting vey and Irma, which battered the region Hedge funds and other money man- a higher base than the agency thought a few months were at $55.67 a barrel, up 5 cents and a much better recovery from the recent in the past three weeks. agers cut their bullish bets on U.S. crude ago. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries not far off the almost five-month high of hurricanes,” ANZ bank said on Monday. Royal Dutch Shell’s Deer Park refinery futures and options in the week to Sept. and suppliers including Russia and Bahrain agreed in De- $55.99 on Thursday. Oil refineries across the Gulf of Mex- in Texas was among the latest, begin- 12, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading cember to curtail output to clear a global glut, led part- “Demand forecasts from OPEC and ico and the Caribbean were restarting ning its restart on Sunday. The plant can Commission reported on Friday. ly by U.S. shale production. They extended their accord IEA... continued to improve sentiment in after being shut due to hurricanes Har- process 325,700 barrels per day. (Source: Reuters) through the first quarter and may consider prolonging the cuts further. Saudis may raise domestic gasoline Supply challenge Russia’s Rosneft clinches gas pipeline Benchmark Brent crude, which has lost 2.1 percent this deal with Iraq’s Kurdistan prices by 80% year, ended last week $1.84 higher at $55.62 a barrel in London trading, in its third consecutive weekly increase. Oil prices at current levels are “better” but still not spur- ring investment, Mohamed bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Bahrain’s oil minister, said at the conference. “There is a supply chal- lenge coming up,” Al-Khalifa said. Atkinson said prices have “apparently bottomed out,” though he questioned the speed at which U.S. shale out- put will rebound. “There are very wide divergences of views,” he said. “We underestimated the resilience of U.S. shale pro- ducers,” Atkinson said. “We failed to understand the re- silience. We failed to appreciate the technical ingenuity.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Here comes the sun: Russian oil major Rosneft will invest in caused by low oil prices. Saudi Arabia is considering a plan to stakes in state-owned entities, in- gas pipelines in Iraq’s Kurdistan, ex- Kurdistan has relied on oil pre-fi- raise domestic prices for gasoline and cluding the world’s biggest crude speedy growth of solar panding its commitment to the region nance deals to improve its fiscal posi- jet fuel in November at the latest, as exporter known as Saudi Aramco. A power signals global ahead of its independence vote to help tion but has struggled to develop its the world’s biggest oil exporter push- 0.5 percent shrinkage in gross do- it become a major exporter of gas to large gas reserves, which can require es a program to curtail spending and mestic product in the first quarter economic shift Turkey and Europe. more investment to develop on a reduce dependence on crude after a revealed the scale of the challenges Kurdistan has been exporting oil in- longer-term scale. global slump in prices. the government may face as it seeks As nations and economies signal their intention to move dependently from the central govern- The arrival of Rosneft will speed The government would boost to overhaul an economy still reliant away from the widespread and indiscriminate use of fossil ment in Baghdad since 2014 and Krem- up gas development, which has so far gasoline to parity with international on a struggling oil industry. fuel, the solar power industry is leaping into the breach, lin-controlled Rosneft joined the list of largely been driven by mid-sized com- prices under the plan, according to The neighboring United Arab growing exponentially while an old-guard oil industry buyers this year, lending the semi-au- panies. a person with knowledge of the mat- Emirates, the second-biggest Arab studies how to jump on the bandwagon without impact- tonomous region hundreds of millions For Rosneft, the world’s largest pub- ter. At current price levels, this would economy in the region, became the ing the bottom line of shareholders and investors. of dollars in loans guaranteed by future licly listed oil company by production, result in a hike for octane-91 grade first country in the oil-rich Persian The implementation of solar energy is rapidly spiraling oil sales. the deal is a major boost to its interna- gasoline to about 1.35 riyals per liter Gulf region to remove subsidies on upward, as current annual production estimates calculate Now Rosneft is widening its invest- tional gas ambitions. Rosneft has long (0.36 cents) from 0.75 riyals, or an in- transport fuel when it began linking some 305 gigawatt-hours produced globally, an enor- ments to gas by agreeing to fund a sought to challenge Gazprom, Russia’s crease of about 80 percent, the per- gasoline and diesel prices to global mous increase from 2010’s 50 gigawatt-hour figure. natural gas pipeline in Kurdistan, Ros- gas export monopoly, in supplying gas son said, asking not to be identified oil markets in August 2015. While current total global energy output is measured neft and the Kurdistan Regional Gov- to Europe. because the matter isn’t public. The Gasoline and jet fuel would un- in the hundreds of thousands of terawatt hours, the small ernment (KRG) said on Monday. Two For Turkey, it means the arrival of government plans to delay increas- dergo immediate, one-time increas- solar percentage is expected to fuel its rapid adoption as a sources close to the deal said the in- new supplies for its energy-hungry es in other energy prices until early es under the plan, while the gov- global energy source, according to a CNBC report. vestments would amount to more than economy and the potential to become 2018, the person said. ernment would raise prices of other “Solar is growing exponentially, is what I don’t think $1 billion. a major center for gas supplies to Eu- Authorities are expected to make fuels gradually by 2021, the person people realize,” according to Norway-based energy exec- Kurdistan is holding an independ- rope. a final decision on the plan in Sep- said. utive Steve O’Neil. ence vote on Sept. 25 as it seeks to The pipeline’s capacity is expected tember or October, the person said. The government may put a ceiling “Every two years, the installation rates are doubling and part ways from Baghdad after years of to handle up to 30 billion cubic meters The Saudi finance and economy on increases in diesel and heavy fuel so it’s happening around the world now very quickly,” he disputes over budget revenues and the (bcm) of gas exports a year, in addition ministries didn’t immediately re- oil to limit any negative impact on said, cited by CNBC. sharing of oil exports. to supplying domestic users. Kurdistan spond to requests for comment. the economy, as both fuels are used Following economies of scale, a rapid rise in the use Erbil, the seat of the KRG in north- sits on some of the largest untapped Energy-subsidy reform is a key for power generation and industrial solar power up from single-digit percentages in the global ern Iraq, needs money to fund the fight gas deposits on Europe’s doorstep. part of Saudi Arabia’s restructur- activities, the person said. output is resulting in a concurrently rapid drop in the cost against Islamic state and a budget crisis (Source: Reuters) ing program, along with the sale of (Source: Bloomberg) of producing the resource, another indicator fueling the speedy development and implementation of sun-based energy technologies around the globe. Sub-$50 oil could kill shale “There’s no doubt that costs are going to continue to Oil prices are at their highest levels in months on the pect U.S. shale companies to accelerate drilling activity. come down,” O’Neil observed, adding, “Now, around the back of strong demand and some key supply outages But even if drillers feel confident with $50 oil, not world, solar energy costs about 8 cents a kilowatt hour. around the world. But the next price movements are un- everyone thinks the industry is on sound financial foot- That’s down 70 percent since 2010.” clear, as is the response from U.S. shale. ing. Jim Chanos, a short-seller with Kynikos Associates, “Those costs are going to continue to come down,” he As the International Energy Agency (IEA) noted last spoke at a CNBC investor’s conference last week and asserted, cited by CNBC. week, global oil supply fell in August by about 720,000 laid out his case for shorting the shale industry. “In our Significant improvements in battery technologies, driv- bpd—a large contraction after months of sizable gains. view, people have been looking at this industry through en in part by the electric automobile industry, are bringing Much of that is probably temporary, particularly in the the rose-colored glasses of Wall Street,” he said. “And this the utility of solar power even to areas that do not experi- U.S. and Libya, two countries that saw unexpected out- is the inherent problem with the North American shale ence reliable sunlight. ages. But the demand story is arguably more important: business.” “Solar can be deployed anywhere. It’s fully scalable, it’s the IEA upgraded its demand forecast for the year, as Chanos argued that shale drillers are using up all of quick to deploy,” said O’Neil. consumption has surprised on the upside. their revenues to reinvest in capex, leaving them with “You can do it on a rooftop, you can do it on ground, WTI is now back in the vicinity of $50 per barrel, while little to nothing left over to pay off debt. Because com- on water,” he added, pointing to its ability to be installed Brent topped $55 per barrel in recent days—its highest high, and in many cases $50 per barrel was the threshold panies have to keep drilling in order to maintain produc- practically anyplace on the planet that gets sunlight. “It’s level since the beginning of 2017. But that doesn’t mean around which bullishness and bearishness pivoted. tion, they find themselves stuck on a spending treadmill. just one of the advantages of solar,” he remarked. that the price gains will continue. There are a few rea- That makes sense because $50 also seems to be an “The way to think about it is that unlike other businesses, (Source: Sputnik) sons to be skeptical that the momentum will carry crude important marker for the starting and stopping of U.S. your assets literally get burned up,” he stated. One of prices higher than current levels. shale. Drilling activity ramped up at the end of last year the companies Chanos singled out during his speech: CNBC notes that over the past three years, whenever and earlier this year after the initial OPEC agreement Continental Resources, the North Dakota and Oklahoma WTI rose above $50 per barrel, a ton of pressure quickly pushed prices above $50. But drilling activity came to a shale driller. Oil majors cut derailed the upward trend. CNBC found that WTI ex- screeching halt and the rig count flat-lined a few months Continental’s CEO Harold Hamm was testy in a fol- greenhouse gas pollution ceeded $50 per barrel 18 times since December 2014, ago when WTI sank to the low $40s. low-up CNBC interview, responding to Chanos’ claims. but after it crossed that threshold, the next week’s price Now, a few months after shale drillers dialed back «Well, first of all, I can say almost, who is this guy?A movement was positive only 28 percent of the time. Or, their ambitions, the oil market seems much improved short-seller,” Hamm declared. He also suggested that The world’s five biggest oil companies -- Exxon Mobil put another way, over the past three years, whenever and WTI is back at $50. While breakeven prices vary Chanos might be getting burned as oil prices rise, and Corp., Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Chevron Corp., BP Plc and WTI jumped above $50 per barrel, three out of four widely from driller to driller, $50 per barrel appears to he is simply trying to talk down oil prices. Total SA -- collectively curbed their pollution by an aver- times the price dropped a week later. Meanwhile, The be a rough rule of thumb for an industry-wide average The exchange is fitting because Hamm has previously age of 13 percent between 2010 and 2015, according to United States Short Oil Fund, an exchange-traded fund breakeven price. While imprecise, the past year or so has said that $50 per barrel was the price needed to keep a report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance released that shorts WTI, was positive 67 percent of the time in seen shale ramp up and down depending on which side shale sustainable. If WTI stays at current levels or moves ahead of its conference in London on Monday. BP cut the the week following a $50 price breach. of $50 per barrel WTI finds itself on. up from here, we’ll find out if he is right over the next most at 25.5 percent. Exxon, the largest emitter among In other words, major investors quickly made bear- The next steps are important but also uncertain. If few quarters. listed companies, pushed it down by 14 percent. ish bets whenever it seemed that WTI was getting too WTI does post some gains, it seems reasonable to ex- (Source: oilprice.com) (Source: Bloomberg) ADVERTISEMENTS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

Catalonia’s referendum is Kim Jong Un – unpredictable, no basis for statehood Negotiations on improved self-government are the right way forward. crazy? Or smart, strategic? In an address to the Spanish parliament in 1932, José Ortega y Gasset, the renowned philosopher and essayist, than 100 disloyal high-level officials. So will you come to the negoti- described Catalonia as “a problem which cannot be solved, Fareed Zakaria it can only be put up with?.?.?.?Other Spaniards must put up ating table? Will you agree to denu- with Catalans [and] Catalans must put up with other Span- clearization in return for the lifting of iards.” Ortega was speaking in the turbulent era of Spain’s sanctions? Second Republic, just before the 1936-39 civil war, when Cat- A: Yes and no. We will readily come to alan secessionism briefly posed a challenge to Spain’s unity. the table. But we will never give up our Eight decades on, political conditions are markedly different. I am sometimes asked what world figure I arsenal. We’re not stupid. It’s all that is However, a dose of Ortega’s wisdom and common sense would most want to interview. For me, the keeping us alive. Look at Saddam Hussein is much needed in the intensifying confrontation between answer is obvious: Kim Jong Un. The general – and we never forget that North Korea Catalonia’s separatists and Spain’s central authorities. impression around the globe continues to be was named as part of the “axis of evil” a Catalonia’s regional government and its secessionist allies that the North Korean leader is crazy, pro- year before the U.S. invaded Iraq. Look are pressing on with plans to stage a referendum on inde- vocative and unpredictable, but I think that what happened to Moammar Gadhafi in pendence on October 1. They are doing so in defiance of he might well be strategic, smart and utterly Libya after he agreed to give up his nucle- Spain’s constitutional court, the ultimate authority on such rational. Since I am unlikely to get that inter- ar weapons program. Look at what’s hap- matters, which suspended the Catalan law providing for the view, I have decided to imagine it instead. pening to Iran right now. After Washington vote. They are doing so despite the fact that Article 2 of Marshal Kim, why do you keep signed a deal and the Iranians have been Spain’s 1978 constitution refers to “the indissoluble unity of building and testing nuclear weapons, certified to be adhering to it, President the Spanish nation” and “the common and indivisible home- even though they result in massive, Donald Trump now says he’s going to tear land of all Spaniards”. crippling economic sanctions? it up anyway. Do you think we would be Apart from the legal arguments, which favor Spain’s cen- A: My nation faces a fundamental stupid enough to believe American prom- tral authorities, the political case of Catalonia’s separatists is challenge – survival. The regime is more ises after all this? We are a nuclear power. anything but watertight. In regional elections held in Sep- threatened than ever before. My forefa- That is not negotiable. We are willing to tember 2015, pro-independence forces ranging from center- thers had it easy. The Great Leader, my talk about limits, test bans, freezes – but right nationalists to radical leftists won a narrow majority of grandfather, ruled with the support of we would need to be given something in seats, but fell short of a majority of all votes cast. the world’s other superpower at the time, return, and not just money. We need secu- This was no basis for accelerating the secessionist pro- the Soviet Union, as well as our gigantic It doesn’t want millions of refugees – or a the president of South Korea at his side. In rity, in the form of diplomatic recognition gram. Yet the regional government and legislature have neighbor, China. Dear leader, my father, unified Korea on its border that is a larger North Korea, we pay a lot of attention to by Washington and guarantees of nonag- gone ahead, anyway, and in a manner that skips airily over still had Beijing’s help for the most part. version of what South Korea is now, with ceremonies and what they signal. gression from China, Japan and the U.S. the democratic standards appropriate for an issue of such But today, the Soviet Union is history and American troops and a treaty alliance. Is that why you seem to go out Many Americans worry that you importance. Catalonia’s referendum law, passed on Septem- China has become more integrated with But I believe that China no longer con- of your way to embarrass China and will soon have the capacity and the in- ber 6, does not set a minimum threshold of votes for the the Western system. And the sole super- siders us an ally. It has voted to sanction us Xi specifically? tention to launch missiles at the U.S. result to be valid. In theory, a small minority of the region’s power, the United States, has made it in the United Nations Security Council. The A: We will not be pushed around. We A: We will have the capacity. And electorate could trigger a declaration of independence. In clear that it seeks regime change in my current president, Xi Jinping, cultivates close heard that senior officials in China and the it serves my purposes to keep you off such circumstances, and keeping in mind the passionately country. And yet, we have survived with relations with South Korea. He has never U.S. were discussing whether to encourage guard. But why would I strike America contested legality of the vote, any proclamation of an inde- our ideology and system intact. How? met with me, the leader of North Korea, a coup in North Korea to get a more pliable and invite a retaliatory counterstrike that pendent Catalonia would be bereft of political legitimacy. Because we have built a protection for something that the leader of China has al- ruler. So I’ve taken steps to ensure that this would put an end to my regime? Keep in Comparisons with referendums and acts of independence in ourselves in the form of nuclear weapons. ways done. Meanwhile, he has had about can’t happen. The man in our government mind, the whole point of this – my entire other democracies are instructive. But China still provides you with 10 meetings with the last two presidents of closest to the Chinese, who could have strategy, all our efforts and the hardships Whether or not the referendum takes place, the essen- crucial supplies of food and fuel. Don’t South Korea. At the grand celebrations in arranged such a coup attempt, was my we have borne – is to ensure that my re- tial step for both sides is to open serious negotiations on an you see it as an ally? Beijing two years ago commemorating the uncle. The man who would have been my gime and I survive. Why would I risk that? updated version of autonomy for Catalonia. A 2006 statute, A: China is ruthlessly pragmatic. It 70th anniversary of the end of World War natural replacement was my half-brother. I believe in assassination, not suicide. approved by the Spanish and Catalan legislatures and by supports us for its own selfish interests. II, he placed the president of Russia and Both have been liquidated, as have more (Source: The Daily Star) Catalonia’s voters in a referendum, but unwisely struck down in 2010 by the Spanish constitutional court, would be a good place to start. Germany’s election: Slow and steady Myanmar’s leader needs to lead (Source: FT)

The White House’s new way to defend Trump: Smear James Comey

Faced with an ongoing special counsel investigation, the White House appears to have settled on a novel method of defending President Trump in the court of public opin- ion: smearing James B. Comey. Three times this past week, Trump’s press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused the former FBI director of possible criminal wrongdoing. While leveling such charges in the absence of any evidence would have been inappropriate enough, Ms. Sanders went on each time to hint that the Justice Department should “look at” Comey’s supposed transgressions — a wink and a nod that borders on a threat to use law enforcement as a Angela Merkel is fighting a campaign al- many where life is good and we enjoy it.” The Nobel Peace Prize winner will have to do so. And she could begin to lay political tool against the president’s enemies. most entirely on domestic issues, but the This may be dull to the point of smug- to answer for the ethnic cleansing of out a narrative that sketches a path to Speaking from the White House lectern, Ms.?Sanders results are vital to the rest of Europe. ness, but a Germany sticking to moderation, her country’s Rohingya minority. integrating the Rohingya into Burmese suggested that Comey had violated the law both in giv- Germans head to the ballot box next and not wading into rash, fringe or extremist Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s iconic society, while implementing the recom- ing false testimony before Congress and in sharing with Sunday. If polls are anything to go by (in politics, is good news for Europe and for lib- leader, is sacrificing her moral author- mendations made by the Kofi Annan- the New York Times a memo documenting the president’s Germany they’re deemed reliable), An- eral democracy at large. And after the defeat ity for political expediency. By failing to led commission she herself appointed request that the FBI drop its investigation into former na- gela Merkel is heading comfortably for of Marine Le Pen in this year’s French elec- speak out against repression -- and, to look into their plight. tional security adviser Michael Flynn. When asked why she a fourth term in office. The economy is tions, it brings vital confirmation that there more broadly, by not doing enough to She has practical as well as moral believed Comey’s conduct to have been illegal, Ms. Sand- doing well, confidence is high, and Mer- is nothing inevitable about a populist wave help her country grow and prosper -- cause to act. Unless the military plans ers presented a hodgepodge of legal arguments with little kel’s main opponent, the Social Demo- overtaking the continent. But there are rip- she risks losing both her power and her somehow to kill or expel the roughly 1 relevance to the former director’s actions. crat Martin Schulz, has failed to land any ples of that wave even in this election. The reputation. million Rohingya living in Myanmar, its According to Comey’s sworn testimony, the memo he damaging blows on her. far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is Suu Kyi, whose years leading the re- scorched-earth campaign is guaran- provided to the Times did not contain classified informa- So the Christian Democratic Union of Ger- set to enter parliament for the first time, with sistance to the Burmese junta earned teed only to breed further resentment. tion. This rules out his having violated his nondisclosure many (CDU) is steady in the polls at 37%, and polls giving it between 10 and 12% of the her the Nobel Peace Prize, has dis- Meanwhile, the indiscriminate response agreement with the FBI. Yet Sanders pointed to that agree- the SPD (Social Democrats) can only muster vote. Originally created in 2013 by a small mayed former admirers by refusing is embittering Myanmar’s relations with ment along with the Privacy Act, which governs disclosure 20%. Most of the suspense centers on what group of academics and intellectuals op- to stop or even denounce what the Muslim nations from Turkey to Indone- of personal information contained in government files, kind of coalition might emerge under Merkel posed to the EU single currency, the AfD later United Nations calls “a textbook ex- sia, and has made the Rohingya cause such as medical records. There’s nothing to suggest that this time. The CDU and the SPD have been in morphed into a xenophobic entity, feeding ample of ethnic cleansing” in her own a rallying cry for extremists across Comey’s memo contained any information that would be coalition since 2013; will that be renewed? Or anti-immigrant sentiment. Most importantly, country. Ever since militant members of Southeast Asia and beyond. protected under the statute or that the memo was housed will a different pattern emerge, perhaps one it has captured the malaise of eastern Ger- Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority To fight back, Suu Kyi needs to do with FBI records. Ms. Sanders stated that the former direc- excluding the SPD but combining the CDU mans who feel they were given the wrong attacked police stations and an army more than speak out; she needs to lead tor prepared the memo on a government computer. But with the liberal, business-friendly Free Demo- end of the stick after German reunification camp last month, security forces and more effectively than she’s done in the even if that were enough to transform the document into a crats (FDP), 9.5% in the latest polls, and the in 1990 – their social woes left unaddressed, local Buddhist vigilantes appear to have nearly year and a half since she took record covered by the Privacy Act — which is far from clear Greens, currently at 7.5%? Few now expect their identity disregarded. A country with launched a brutal campaign against power. When it comes to the economy — there’s no public evidence to support Sanders’s claim the kind of political upheaval which might pro- substantial trade and budget surpluses still them. Hundreds of Rohingya have in particular, her administration has that Comey used an FBI computer to draft that particular duce a coalition between the SPD, the Greens, struggles to convince parts of its population been killed, and nearly 300,000 refu- been plagued by inefficiency and in- memo. and the former communists of Die Linke. that it won’t be left on the sidelines. gees have fled across the border to decisiveness. Though reforms to laws Sanders’s strongest argument is that Comey may have Longest-serving chancellor Germany’s role in Europe has grown makeshift camps in Bangladesh. governing investments and companies transgressed the terms of his employment agreement with This placidity is a tribute to the resilience spectacularly in recent years when a se- Suu Kyi, mindful of the near-universal have begun to move forward, the di- the FBI. But breach of that agreement would not be illegal. of Europe’s most powerful leader. At the ries of almost existential shocks threatened loathing of the Rohingya among Myan- rection of economic policy remains And Comey had already been fired when he passed the age of 63, Merkel, who was first elected in the European project – the financial crisis mar’s other communities, has blasted too murky. Regulations are as stifling memo to the Times. 2005, is on her way to reaching her men- and the great influx of Syrian refugees. global criticism of this crisis as fake as ever; too many policy decisions are The legal reasoning behind Sanders’s attacks on Comey tor Helmut Kohl’s record of being modern What comes out of this election matters news; officials have accused Rohingya delayed by micromanagement. Foreign may be risible, but the White House’s willingness to ground- Germany’s longest-serving chancellor. Just greatly to the EU’s future. German policies of setting fire to their own villages. Crit- investment in the last fiscal year shrunk lessly malign an adversary should be taken seriously. It’s as she was underestimated when she first on Brexit are unlikely to change, whatever ics, some of whom have called on the more than 30 percent from the year one thing for the president’s legal defense team to try to entered politics in 1990, as a young physi- some leavers here may hope. But French Nobel committee to strip Suu Kyi of her before. persuade the public and the special counsel that Comey cist from East Germany, Merkel’s talent for plans to introduce a budget and a finance prize, are right to take her to task. Unless Suu Kyi’s government can is not a credible witness. It’s quite another to leverage the political survival was somewhat overlooked minister for the eurozone – which deserve Suu Kyi can’t single-handedly eradi- reverse this situation and give young power of the presidency against a political adversary and in the aftermath of the 2015 refugee cri- support – may be obstructed if the next cate anti-Rohingya prejudice, nor does Burmese more hope in their economic hint at a Justice Department investigation on the basis of sis, which some thought would lead to coalition includes the FDP, a party strongly she control the still-powerful Burmese prospects, they will provide all-too- paper-thin claims. By now it may be naive to hope that her downfall. Two years on, Germany’s hostile to anything that smacks of financial military. But she could at least limit ready fodder for extremists on both Trump will come to respect the importance of independent “welcome culture” may have faded, but transfers. Merkel owes her likely re-election the army’s depredations by demand- sides of the Rohingya divide. A mes- law enforcement. But he would be wise to keep in mind for most voters Merkel remains a safe pair to German domestic factors, not least the ing that civilians be protected and that sage of tolerance might be a hard sell the catastrophe that engulfed his administration when he of hands. She has always had an instinct strength of the economy. But she has also journalists and UN monitors be allowed right now. But if anyone in Myanmar assaulted that independence by firing Comey — and aban- for the center ground, where a majority of been a driving force for the EU, despite ob- into the affected area. Her government has the power and (still) the authority don this latest attack. voter sympathies lie, and the slogan she is stacles and in the face of criticism. could send aid for the refugees rather to make it, it’s Aung San Suu Kyi. (Source: The Washington Post) running under makes this clear: “For a Ger- (Source: The Guardian) than simply allow countries like Turkey (Source: Bloomberg) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Trump has no alternative Crossing Abadi’s redline ‘Kirkuk’ would instigate for JCPOA bloody war: Sadegh Maleki By Javad Heirannia experience is that, except for plans, there are few real military secrets. I don’t think By Payman Yazdani TEHRAN — A former assistant director for that Iran would suffer any harm from such national security in the White House Office Senior political analyst Sadegh Maleki in an interview with MNA an inspection and its openness would be said Kirkuk is al-Abadi’s redline and crossing it by holding the of Science and Technology says the U.S. disarming to world opinion. administration is “divided” on the nuclear Kurdish referendum on independence would instigate a wide- If the U.S. quits the nuclear deal, ob- spread and bloody carnage in the Arab country. deal, officially called the Joint Comprehen- viously European companies and banks sive Plan of Action (JCPOA), yet President Despite growing opposition from Baghdad and neighboring won’t work with Iran even if their govern- countries and pressure on KRG head Masoud Barzani to with- Trump has no “alternative” for it ments remain committed to the JCPOA. “President Trump, bent on wiping out draw from the independence plan, Iraqi Kurdistan region is still This won’t be pleasing for Iran. Shouldn’t insisting on going ahead with the referendum on September 25. all President Obama’s accomplishments, European countries provide their compa- would like to bring it down as a ‘bad deal’ In an interview with Mehr News Agency, political analyst and nies and banks with necessary guarantees? expert on regional affairs, Sadegh Maleki, said the current sit- but has no alternative to offer,” Frank N. von A: I agree that the European govern- Hippel tells the Tehran Times in an exclusive uation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Iraq and ments should support the JCPOA regard- the Middle East is not favorable for the referendum, which has interview. less of what the Trump Administration Following is the full text of the interview: no legal basis. He went on to stress that the split in Iraq could does. I am not an expert on financial sanc- instigate war, since “neither Iraq is Czechoslovakia nor Middle While the recent IAEA report recon- tions and therefore cannot offer an opinion firms that Iran has met its obligations under East is Europe.” He also maintained that in case of Iraq’s split, on the practicality and limits of possible fi- the main culprit would be the US, as Washington would back the JCPOA, the U.S. seeks to withdraw from nancial guarantees. the nuclear deal and is pushing for inspec- Certain officials within the Trump ad- tion of Iran’s military sites. What is the U.S. ministration including Nikki Haley claim that in fact after? Iran is destabilizing the region and relate A: The U.S. is divided on the JCPOA. it to the nuclear deal. Why does the U.S. President Trump, bent on wiping out all to isolate the United States from its allies by Tariq Rauf, ex-IAEA official believes in it)? bring up such issues? President Obama’s accomplishments, taking the U.S. out of the JCPOA. Instead, A: Although nothing is impossible, I A: Much of the real opposition to would like to bring it down as a “bad deal” they would hope to provoke Iran to leave have heard nothing about the possible the nuclear deal comes from unrelat- but has no alternative to offer. Some more the agreement. creation of fake documents. I understand ed concerns of U.S. allies in the Middle responsible Republicans, although they Iran has said it will not allow inspec- that the IAEA position is that it will not de- East relating to the balance of power in worry about Iran…, realize that the JCPOA tions of its military sites, and this is an inter- mand access to any Iranian military sites the region. Both Israel and Saudi Arabia has created, at least temporarily, an island nationally recognized principle. In view of unless it is given a good reason to do so. fear Iran as a destabilizing force. The of stability in the nuclear world – especial- this is it possible that the U.S. start to create If the IAEA Board is convinced that inspec- supporters of the Deal, like me, say, that, ly at the time of a new nuclear crisis with fake documents against Iran as it did in the tors must be sent to some military base, I even if that is the case, it is better to take North Korea. case of Iraq in the 1990s (some experts like would hope that Iran would cooperate. My the nuclear factor out of the equation. Recently Trump extended the Iran the emergence of a Kurdish government that could become a The opponents seem to feel that, if Iran strategic ally to Tel Aviv. sanctions relief for another 120 days but is seen as a nuclear threat, it will be eas- and at the same time his Treasury imposed “Much of the real opposition to the Nuclear Deal The following is full text of the interview: ier to unite the world against Iran. I think Iraqi Kurdistan region’s referendum on independence is new sanctions on some Iranian companies comes from unrelated concerns of U.S. allies in that they are correct. It therefore would and individuals. What do you think of this slated for September 25 despite opposition from some Kurd- the Middle East relating to the balance of power be in Iran’s interest to stick with the nucle- ish parties such as the Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG) or Gorran approach? ar deal even if the Trump administration A: Trump’s advisors have urged him not in the region.” Movement. From the viewpoint of Kurdish parties, what will be takes the United States out of it. the effects of the holding of the independence referendum on the said parties? A Kurdish homeland is a dream to many Kurds, but dreams 2017 Conference for the Implementation of the DPCW have no place on the political scene. Politics is the arena of feasi- ble deeds. The current situation of the KRG, Iraq and the Middle By Hamid Gholamzadeh and international organizations. Devel- ers love their people, they should work cation in Guatemala, said,“Wecould con- opment in peace campaigns and projects together to implement peacebuilding tribute in the promotion of the culture of East region is not favorable for the referendum. The independ- ence plan may have created some fervor and enthusiasm on 3rd Annual Commemoration of the World was endorsed in many parts of the world measures.” He added, “A world without peace in the world. We would help the through the Declaration of Peace and wars applies to every person in the globe, citizens of tomorrow be more tolerant of northern parts of Iraq, but nationalist sentiments are not usually Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Sum- guided by common sense, therefore they can cause unity and mit Discussed on the Practical Approach- Cessation of War (DPCW) proclaimed in which means that every individual’s dedi- each other and that a dialogue or discus- 2016 to advocate international cooper- cation as a messenger of peace to peace- sion is the way to accept their differenc- initial support among the parties at the beginning, but once the es to Peace-Building Based on the Decla- costly consequences reared their ugly heads, they would dis- ration of the Peace and Cessation of War ation to establish peace as a norm and building will make a peaceful world.” es and solve their conflicts. You and I are culture. At the ‘5th HWPL International Law responsible for promoting the culture of perse the Kurds. (DPCW) From one standpoint, the referendum may be an idealistic A 3-day peace summit to discuss the To develop this agenda, four planning Peace Committee Meeting’, Rt. Hon. peace to the next generations.” sessions: 2017 Conference for the Imple- HrantBagratyan, Former Prime Minister Also, the ‘Conference for Global Peace attempt at covering up Barzani’s lack of legitimacy as a lead- implementation of peacebuilding pro- er and diverting Iraqi Kurds’ general public’s opinion from the jects at local and national levels began mentation of the Declaration of Peace and of Armenia,said, “Not only this declara- Media Network’ with 90 journalists from Cessation of War, 5th HWPL International tion and HWPL’s peace work are bene- about 50 countries sought freedom of widespread corruption all over Erbil. Holding of the referendum with 1,100 representatives of states, IGOs, at a time when Barzani’s term in office has come to an end and NGOs, and experts in international law, Law Peace Committee Meeting, Peace Ed- ficial to a specific level of society but are the press in relation to the role of journal- ucation Development Forum for Spreading definite tool to bring peace to all of us. ism in the foundation of a global media the parliament has shut down, lacks any legal basis, not only education, and media from approximate- from the viewpoint of Baghdad but Erbil as well. Except from ly 120 countries on September 17th in a Culture of Peace, and Conference for Without having the limit to one sector, network for peacebuilding. “Journalism Global Peace Media Network were held on more people raised their voice for urg- plays a significant role in delivering the Gorran movement and the KIG, almost all other Kurdish parties Seoul, Republic of Korea. are in favor of the referendum, but a major part of this consen- Hosted by Heavenly Culture, World the first day of the event on 17th. ing what is necessary at our time”, calling collective voice of the global communi- Mr. Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, for the cooperation of every sector of the ty for the same, common goal of peace. sus stems from the social condition of the Kurds and the Kurdish Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an region. Voting against the referendum means standing against international NGO under UN ECOSOC, emphasized strengthening the interna- society to implement the DPCW into a le- Now is the time for connecting the local tional law for peace advocated by the gally binding document. and the national by the governance of the ideology that has formed the social context of Kurdish par- the 3rd Annual Commemoration of ties who do not want Barzani alone to become the embodiment the WARP Summit addressed global DPCW. “The most urgent need is cessa- In the Peace Education Development peace.” said Mr. Ian Seo, Chief Manager of tion of war. The DPCW drafted by experts Forum for Spreading a Culture of Peace, International Press Department of HWPL of an ideology no matter how far-fetched or disastrous. peace-building measures through the Given the strict opposition of Baghdad, and particularly establishment of collaborative govern- in international law offers practical ap- Hon. Maria Eugenia Barrios Robles de HQ, introducing the initiative of the peace proaches to preventing conflicts. If lead- Mejía, Vice Minister of Ministry of Edu- media network platform of HWPL. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who has called the Kurdish in- ance among governments, civil society, dependence plan “playing with fire”, is there any possibility of Baghdad’s military confrontation with Erbil following the holding of the referendum? Turkey to react to Kurdish referendum with violence: ex-CIA officer The holding of the referendum can instigate war. Al-Abadi’s By Javad Heirannia We are looking at the equivalent of the French Revolu- method of running the country is based on moderation. So tion in both the Middle East and in the USA where each when he talks of playing with fire, Erbil should worry about the TEHRAN — Robert David Steele, a former CIA clandes- day brings us closer to a collapse of the two-party tyran- position of leaders such as Muqtada al-Sadr and Nouri al-Maliki. tine operations officer, tells the Tehran Times that Turkey ny that is the enabler of the Deep State in the USA. On If Kirkuk is considered as the heart of Kurdistan by Barzani and will probably react to Iraqi Kurdish referendum with vi- balance, I believe the Kurds will out-smart and out-fight Taliban, it is the redline of war for Baghdad. If the referendum olence. the Turks — it would be much cheaper and safer for Tur- is held and Kirkuk and other conflict areas join the Kurdistan “Turkey will probably react as it always has, with vi- key to align with Armenia, Iran, Syria, and Iraq to create a region, the KRG in particular, and Iraq in general, will have many olence,” says Steel, a potential candidate for the Nobel Kurdish Federation with a ten year transition plan toward days of war and bloodshed ahead. Neither Iraq is Czechoslova- Peace Prize. complete Kurdish independence. kia nor Middle East is Europe. The split in Iraq will be widespread, Following is the text of the interview: Reportedly, the U.S. and other Western countries pervasive and a scene of absolute carnage. The Kurdish referendum is to be held on Septem- have proposed an alternative plan to KRG President The US and the UK have opposed the referendum. Are they ber 25 despite opposition of Kurdish movements such as Barzani based on which Kirkuk is handed to the KRG and fundamentally against the separation of the Kurdistan region or the Gorran Movement. How will the referendum influ- in return the referendum is delayed. How do you evalu- just don’t think the timing is right? What is the actual reason of ence Kurdish movements within the region? maintained their coherence as a group, and earned the ate this proposal? their opposition? The Kurdish referendum is long overdue and must be right to be free. A: I cannot over-state the duplicity and stupidity of US The Middle East region with the Kurds in its focal point is respected. Kurdistan is a cultural, ethnic, and econom- The U.S. and UK have objected to the referendum. foreign policy. The U.S. Department of State is owned passing through a fateful and uncertain period and one cannot ic reality even if the political powers controlled by the Are these two countries against the separation of Kurd- and operated by Israel — by the Zionists. It does not make a definite prediction of the outcome of its developments. Deep State (Rothschilds, Vatican, City of London, Wall ish Regional Government from Iraq or do they think that represent the best interests of the U.S. public nor does it Generally speaking, the US has not yet become focused on the Street and their government puppets) do not wish it so. the timing isn’t quite appropriate? What is exactly their respect the legitimate needs of any foreign public. partitioning project in the region, but has toyed with it and uses I anticipate the practical foundation of Kurdistan within objection based on? Considering the fact that conflicting regions it to regulate countries’ behaviors. If Iraq is one day divided, the five years — if the surrounding powers do not collabo- A: The U.S. and UK governments are totally subser- like Kirkuk will take part in the referendum, how will main culprit is the US. The United States and Britain, as the main rate I anticipate all of them falling into a state of civil war; vient to the Deep State. Conflict in the Middle East is non-Kurdish movements and residents like Turkmens causes of the emergence of the cancer called Israel, are, in a Turkey will not survive in its present state. about profit for the 1% rather than peace and prosperity take this referendum, will they accept its results? major part of their covert diplomacy, definitely in favor of the Concerning the objection of the central govern- for the 99%. It is in the best interests of the larger pub- A: A major factor affecting how others interpret the emergence of a Kurdish government that could become a stra- ment in Baghdad and the prime minister himself to lic that peace be achieved in the Middle East, starting Kurdish movement toward autonomy and then inde- tegic ally to Tel Aviv. Note that Washington has only opposed to the referendum, who has described the referendum as with the exclusion of the Western powers, and a massive pendence is the corruption of the media including the the timing of the referendum. While evaluating countries’ poli- “playing with fire”, is there a possibility of military con- global movement to boycott the U.S. and UK for so long national broadcasting capabilities of the various affected cies, one must distinguish between their announced policies and flict between Baghdad and Arbil if the referendum goes as they provide financial subsidies and covert operations countries. Propaganda and lies are the currency of the their adopted ones. ahead? support to Saudi Arabia and Israel. mainstream media, and the social media is controlled What will be the possible reaction of Turkey to the referen- A: Fire is the foundation of civilization. Fire is what How will Turkey react to the KRG referendum? Will and manipulated with the help of #GoogleGestapo. dum? Is Ankara’s military confrontation with Erbil conceivable? you get when reality meets corruption. What Iraq and it lead to a clash between Ankara and the KRG? Hence the various publics do not understand that most Turkey has gained a lot of distance from its traditional posi- Syria should be doing is helping to form the provisional A: Turkey will probably react as it always has, with of the turmoil in their countries is caused by Western tions toward Erbil. Ankara used to deem KRG’s independence state of Kurdistan, in a practical alliance with Iran, while violence. As with the U.S. government leadership, the provocateurs in favor of Western banks. We have war in the beginning of war. But Turkey itself, with the expansion of its urging Turkey to create a provisional autonomous Kurd- Turkish leadership does not yet understand that populist the Middle East for two reasons: because the Deep State economic ties and signing oil deals with Erbil despite opposition ish region from which all Turkish police and military are movements are now on the rise and will inevitably win. profits from oil scarcity and illegal immigraiton (which from Baghdad, is one of the main reasons that the Kurdistan re- withdrawn. Some sort of financial settlement could be also provides body parts, bone barrow, and small chil- gion is now going ahead with the referendum. At the moment, made with Armenia, they can only benefit from a pros- The U.S. and UK governments are dren to be sold to elite pedophiles), and because Isra- Ankara’s view has dropped from the height of opposition with perous autonomous Kurdistan. The Middle East is in the el thrives on war that helps destabilize and “Balkanize” the emergence of a Kurdish government to the low of observing mess; it is in because the British and French betrayed the totally subservient to the Deep the Middle East. The greatest threat to the Middle East the rights of Turkmen in Kirkuk, Tal Afar, etc. Turkish authorities’ Arabs; the U.S. is their out-of-control proxy, and Israel State. Conflict in the Middle East is right now is not the Kurds, but Israel, and Israel’s plan to remarks are not much trustworthy. Given the kind and extent continues to be the most toxic power in the region seek- about profit for the 1% rather than have Jared Kushner give the Saudis nuclear weapons so of Ankara-Erbil relations, if Turkey starts to actually bring its re- ing to destabilize everyone else for their own benefit. peace and prosperity for the 99%. they can wage a “limited” nuclear war on Iran. This is of marks into action, Erbil’s withdrawal from the referendum will not The Kurds are an educated disciplined people who have course insane. be that far-fetched. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 HEALTH 9 What type of person you are Getting ‘in shape’: What does that really mean?

according to your foot By Matt Johnston The act of reading the face or the 2. The Greek Foot at expressing their opinions to others 5. Little toe on the side of the palm has been popular since ancient The Greek Foot is also known as the without being overpowering. They foot It’s a strange, vague goal that many of us strive for: getting ages. But, did you know that even the Flame Foot. People with this type of also make friends very easily. People who have their little toe “in shape.” shape of your feet can reveal exciting foot, where the second toe is longer on the side of the foot are often very But what does that actually mean? And how do you get things about your personality? Yes, it’s than the first toe, have a motivating rebellious, and they want things to be there? true. The shape, size, and position of personality and are considered to done their way. It may be the most popular phrase in the world of exercise, your feet reveal a lot of things about be very enthusiastic about things. but it’s hard to pin down a clear definition, or know how to you. People with this shape of foot possess 6. Tilted third toe reach that ideal in practice. Have a look at your toe once and leadership qualities. They are more People with such foot type prefer check if your second toe is shorter creative and open to challenges and planning things ahead before than your first toe. Or, do they cross adventures. They can be impulsive implementing them. They are very over? If yes, then it has a special and act bossy at times since they want well organized and have good control meaning. Let’s investigate more about things to go their way. over themselves. it. Mentioned below are 10 different It is seen commonly in athletes, foot types along with what they reveal artists, or public speakers. 7. Unable to separate the little about your personality. Check them toe out! People who are unable to separate 1. The square foot their little toe prefer to stick to their A person is said to have a square routine and are very strict about it. foot when all the toes are almost They are very loyal and form great identical in length, making your foot companions. We spoke recently to Shawn Arent, an exercise scientist at look rectangular in shape. 4. The stretched foot Rutgers University, and asked him about this. He was pretty It is also called the Peasant Foot. Since the toes are all squished 8. Able to separate the little toe clear: The answer is different for everyone. People who have this type of foot are together, a stretched foot often looks People who can separate their little But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a number of common often considered to be very cautious. very thin. The big toe is the largest of toe constantly look for a change in markers for people who consider themselves “in shape.” Before taking any action or making all, and then the size decreases with their lives. They get bored very easily, Here’s what he told us: any decision, they analyze every each toe. People with this type of foot and this mindset often makes them “There is no one definition. It can be everything from small detail and only then come to a generally like to be on their own and feel unhappy. They are often very having low body fat to having good cardiovascular endurance conclusion. enjoy their private space. They are moody. to having muscular strength — to be pain free, to be stress They tend to be very reasonable very secretive and do not share things free, all these things ... and I really think it depends on what the and practical. They also stay very calm with others. 9. A Gap between second and person’s goals are. in any situation and are considered to They are very impulsive and do not third toe “It depends on what you’re trying to do. If you’re trying be very reliable. have control over their mood. If you have a gap between your to run a marathon, your version of in shape might be 3. The roman foot second and third toes, it means that something very different than someone competing in a This is the most common type of foot you do not get emotionally attached body building contest or someone that plays flag football where all the toes are proportionate, to anything easily. You detach on the weekend. with the big toe being the longest of yourself from your day-to-day tasks “Generally the way we define it is that your cardiovascular all the toes. People with this type of very easily. endurance — your cardiorespiratory endurance — is good foot are very social and outgoing. enough that you don’t easily get winded. So your VO2 max is They have a sparkle in their 10. Narrow base on second toe above average, in terms of oxygen consumption. personality that makes them very People with such feet are “[Being in shape can also mean] having a good level of charismatic. considered to be very expressive. body fat — I don’t want to say low — because obviously They are very friendly, well They have a great influence on you don’t want to go too low with body fat (there’s other balanced, and well organized in their other people. problems there), but a healthy [level of] body fat is probably lives. They know what to say and how If they are happy, they make the the best way to look at it. Where you’re considered lean, to behave in any situation, and this entire atmosphere joyful, but if they most people consider that “in shape.” So like I said it really makes them very tactical. are in a bad mood, it is best to leave depends on what your goals are ... They are adventurous and also very them alone. “... It just depends on what you want your shape to be.” good listeners. They are very good (Source: stylecraze.com) (Source: businessinsider.com)

Will experimental blood test be a “SHAHR” Welfare Complex, a Gem in Northern Iran game-changer for Alzheimer’s disease? Special Offer for Travelers Who Want By Susan Scutti A diagnosis of dementia is life-changing. With early to Enjoy a Trip in Northern Iran detection, medical interventions have the best chance of In hot days of summer, travelers, who choose the coastal towns of Mazandaran An experimental blood test can accurately diagnose slowing the progress of disease, according to the society. Province for recreations alongside of the sea with breathtaking views, will Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, For the study, the researchers enlisted the help of experience a memorable days with their families in “SHAHR” Welfare Complex. according to a study published Monday in the journal 347 participants with neurodegenerative diseases, plus Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Though 202 healthy people serving as a comparison group. Travelling to the northern cities of the country and visiting must-see sites and still in development, the test may someday be used to Participants ranged in age from 23 to 90. The researchers sceneries of the Caspian Sea is one of the first decisions taken by families for diagnose other degenerative brain disorders and even took blood samples from all the volunteers and analyzed summer trips and holidays. mild cognitive impairment resulting from head injuries. the samples with infrared spectroscopy. Meanwhile, most travelers prefer to use the coastal waters of Mazandaran The researchers say that using the test, they were able This is “a sensor-based technology that has at its core a Province to make unforgettable memories along with family or friends. to identify Alzheimer’s patients with up to 86% sensitivity diamond,” Martin explained. “Light is passed through the Among coastal cities of Mazandaran Province, Izadshahr is an ideal place for and specificity. (Sensitivity refers true positives identified diamond and bounces off the surface of the diamond. As summer trips due to its favorable climatic condition. This city is located at 8 km by the test, while specificity refers to true negatives.) The it does so, the light interacts with chemical bonds in the West of Mahmoudabad and 7 km east of the Noor city in Mazandaran Province. test also differentiated Alzheimer’s from dementia with sample and these vibrate at a frequency that is detected.” “SHAHR” Welfare Complex is one of the best welfare and recreational hubs in Lewy bodies, a related condition, with 90% sensitivity and These frequencies reveal the chemical bonds in the Izadshahr which is offered to the northern travelers. It has a beautiful residential specificity. blood, which indicate whether the blood contains traces and tourist area along with all amenities and facilities and can be considered as the most suitable option for staying a few The new test’s “accuracy is markedly higher than of a neurodegenerative disease -- and, if so, which kind, days along the Caspian Sea. other tests being developed,” said senior study author he wrote. This modern and newly-built complex is equipped with 188 seafront apartment units, constructed in seven floors with a Francis Martin, a professor in the School of Pharmacy and Using this test, Martin and his colleagues correctly Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Lancashire identified early cases of Alzheimer’s disease with 80% unique view, located in a dreamy town for passengers and travelers special of ESKANO. in the United Kingdom. “For such a simple test to be so sensitivity and 74% specificity and later stages of the All units of this residential and welfare complex are equipped with two- and three-bedrooms, duplex, fully furnished (with predictive is very exciting.” disease with up to 86% sensitivity and specificity when stylish and classy furniture). It should be noted that the beachfront terrace has increased the attractions of the surrounding That said, he himself was surprised by the accuracy, using other patient data. environment to a great extent. given that other researchers have not achieved similar Beyond a clinic or laboratory’s initial outlay for Of the other amenities of this Complex, it should be referred to the private beach, a children’s park, a football field, beach results using more sophisticated approaches, Martin wrote instrumentation, equating to about $50,000 -- “not much volleyball, basketball, Ping-Pong, a gym, a bike ride, a swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi as free of charge, etc. in an email. really” -- recurrent costs for individual patient tests would On the other hand, senior managers of “SHAHR” Welfare Complex have considered special offer for government be “negligible,” Martin noted. departments and organizations and can benefit from special discount within the framework of conclusion of a yearlong Everyday people and athletes, too and/or long-term contract. For people with signs of mild cognitive impairment, the test could help doctors “monitor disease progression, tailor treatment based on disease classification and predict progression,” Martin said. Not only would the general public benefit from this test, Martin said, it could be used as a post-injury diagnosis for athletes, including football players and boxers. “We have now gone well beyond pilot studies,” Martin Researchers say that using said of the new test. “The appropriate validation studies the experimental blood test, are next -- these will take five to 10 years.” Brown agreed that more time and study are necessary they were able to identify before the new test can be used by doctors. Alzheimer’s patients with up to “The accuracy is not yet high enough and would 86% sensitivity and specificity. currently lead to mis-diagnoses,” he wrote in an email. “More development is needed to improve the accuracy ‘Life-changing’ diagnosis before the test could reach the clinic.” More study is also Today, there’s only one conclusive test for Alzheimer’s need “to ensure these results can be reproduced and diagnosis: a postmortem examination of a patient’s brain. replicated.” Yet while a patient is alive, doctors diagnose the disease “Along with detecting dementia early, this approach based on a careful evaluation that includes brain scans has the potential to differentiate between different types and in-depth mental testing, according to the website for of dementia,” he wrote, adding that the study is not the Alzheimer’s Society, a registered UK charity that funds unique. research. “Blood tests are being widely investigated as a potential “Current methods of diagnosing dementia can be slow way to identify people with dementia,” Brown wrote. and expensive, so finding a cheap, quick test that can “Alzheimer’s Society is also funding studies that identify accurately identify if someone has dementia is a top priority a wide range of biological signals through cerebrospinal For more information about the facilities of this Complex and other units, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the for researchers,” said Doug Brown, director of research and fluid, brain scans and saliva to better detect who is at risk following number: 01144536231, 01144536250 and/or 02144536093 @shahr_66 development at Alzheimer’s Society. The society did not fund of developing dementia.” “SHAHR” Welfare Complex’s Address: the new study, and Brown did not participate as a researcher. (Source: CNN) Golsar No. 3, Izadshahr, Noor, Mazandaran Province I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 Historical decision: Approval of the UNWTO Iran’s Hamadan to host World Tourism Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics Organization 2018 GA The member States of the World Hamadan’s hosting of the General Assembly of the UNWTO Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ap- in 2018 has been finalized following the efforts of the Cultural proved an historical document - the Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran, and UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Board of Alisadr Travel Company. Tourism Ethics. The Convention, ap- According to a Farsi report by the Mehr News Agency, proved at the 22nd UNWTO Gener- the finalization that took place at the 22nd session ofthe al Assembly transforms the Code of UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China, could be the Ethics for Tourism into an internation- beginning of a fruitful and important route for tourism in Iran al convention, the first in the life of and the province of Hamadan. the Organization. The Convention covers the respon- sibilities of all stakeholders in the devel- opment sustainable tourism, providing a framework that recommends an eth- ical and sustainable modus operandi, including the right to tourism, the free- dom of movement for tourists and the rights of employees and professionals. “In an interconnected world where the business volume of tourism equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, food products or automobiles, it is im- portant to set out a legal framework to ensure that growth is dealt with re- sponsibly and that it can be sustained The process of Hamadan’s hosting of the General Assembly over time. Tourism is a power that must presenting the Convention on Tourism for sustainable development, social national Year of Sustainable Tourism for began on October 1, 2016, at a meeting of the World Tourism be harnessed for the benefit of all,” said Ethics to the 22nd UNWTO General As- issues, local community development, Development that we celebrate this Organization’s affiliated members in Armenia. the Chairman of the World Committee sembly. improves understanding between cul- year. It is also a strong sign that coun- The delegation from the Alisadr Travel Company at the on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), Pascal Lamy. The conversion of the Code, which tures and addresses labor issues. tries are committed to make tourism a meeting took the opportunity to screen a film introducing Appointed as Chairman of the was adopted in 1999, into a proper “This is an historical moment for force for a better future for all. It rein- Iran, Hamadan and Alisadr cave, which was welcomed by the WTCE in 2013, Pascal Lamy, together Convention represents a significant UNWTO, said the Secretary-General”, forces UNWTO institutional outreach in attendants. with his colleagues in the Committee, step towards ensuring that tourism Taleb Rifai. “The approval of the Con- the UN system,” he added. After showing the film, the delegation met with Secretary- has been instrumental in the process of development is done with full respect vention is a strong legacy of the Inter- (Source: traveldailynews.com) General of the World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai, and presented the official request for Hamadan’s hosting of the General Assembly in 2018, which was welcomed by the Secretary-General and it was put on the agenda. Egypt pins hope on China to revive ailing tourism industry: official After sending Hamadan governor’s letter to Iran’s Cultural LUXOR, Egypt (Xinhua) — Egypt is eager to tap into Tourism in Egypt, a major source of its national in- Amid the dire conditions, Egypt now pins big hope Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization, Hamadan’s the Chinese market to revive its ailing tourism industry, come and foreign currency reserve, was dealt a further on China, a growing tourist market, to revive its tour- hosting of this international meeting was pursued at Governor of Egypt’s Luxor Governorate Mohamed Badr blow by the Russian airplane crash in North Sinai in Oc- ism sector. national level, and with the round-the-clock efforts and told Xinhua in a recent interview. tober, 2015 after which several countries, including Brit- “We are focusing more on the Chinese market. I have precise planning, the World Tourism Organization agreed Badr noted that the number of Chinese tourists has ain and Russia, suspended their flights to Egypt. given orders to add Chinese language to all direction to this proposal. already notably increased after the visit of Chinese Pres- This aggravated the recession in the country’s already signs on roads and tourist sites across Luxor,” Badr said. (Source: IFP News) ident Xi Jinping to Egypt in early 2016. ailing tourism sector due to political instability. The governor said he has a general impression that The Chinese president toured Luxor during his visit Even before the Russian plane crash, Egypt suffered the Chinese tourists, who are very well educated, come to Egypt, and the reports of this visit by major Chinese a sharp decline in tourists due to three years of political to Luxor because they want to learn more about the his- media outlets helped attract more Chinese tourists to turmoil, including two mass uprisings that toppled two tory of ancient Egypt. The world’s fastest visit Luxor, the governor said. presidents, forcing several countries to ban their citizens Official figures from the Egyptian Embassy in Beijing growing tourist Badr said the inflow of Chinese tourists has somehow from traveling to Egypt for safety reasons. show that the number of Chinese tourists who visited revived the tourism business in Luxor, which is a favorite Luxor, once an ancient Egyptian capital, suffered sim- Egypt in the first five months this year nearly doubled destinations attraction for tourists after the Pyramids. ilarly as other Egyptian tourist cities. from last year. In the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s latest World Tourism Barometer, the most popular global destinations in the first four months of the year were revealed. Why everyone should travel solo at least once The data highlights strong tourism results between These days my news feed is filled with often talk about how empowered they on your decisions and discover more April and January of this year with 369 million international pictures of solo adventurers taking on the feel when they return from a trip. They about what makes you, you. Spending overnight visitors, 21 million more than the same period last world, heading to one gorgeous destina- usually come back a new person with a even a minimal time in solitude will allow year. Most major destinations recorded sustained growth tion after another. Even with a ton of posi- fresh perspective on life. Solo travel rep- you to embark on an inward journey of and interestingly, some countries experiencing violence and tive press on setting out to see the world on resents freedom, independence, and of self-discovery. political unrest managed to rebound spectacularly. your own, concerns still arise. Safety con- course wanderlust. It also allows you to Connections & new friendships Destinations in the Middle East and North Africa recorded cerns, loneliness, and boredom can make create your own schedule of everything I think there is a misconception that the highest growth rates. The Palestinian territories attracted solo travel scary or even unappealing. For you want to do, including when and how solo travel means you’re always alone. 400,000 visitors in 2016 and that increased 57.8 percent in women, traveling solo can be even more you want to do it! While some prefer to be alone, you can the first four months of 2017. After several years of unrest, challenging with gender inequality issues Confidence also make new friends on your journey. Egypt’s tourist industry is beginning to recover with its around the globe. So, why is it a good idea Some consider solo travel as a brave Travel can lead to exciting adventures and overnight visitors up an impressive 51 percent on the first to travel somewhere alone? endeavor. I don’t think of going solo as meaningful experiences with complete go. The world is just too big to have to four months of last year. I’ve traveled for business, in groups, with brave because if you plan properly, you strangers that have a long-lasting impact. wait around for someone to go with you All of the hype surrounding Iceland as a stunning tourist family, friends and by myself. As someone will be ready for whatever comes your Nowadays, there are plenty of apps that every time you want to go on an adven- destination is beginning to make things a little bit more who values experiences, I find each of way. The more research you do on a des- offer opportunities to make connections ture. That coupled with knowing how crowded on the island. After 1.79 million visits in the first these types of travel to be advantageous tination (safety, cultural norms, language, with like-minded explorers. Beyond apps, amazing solo travel can be, it would just four months of 2016, despite the dark and gloomy weather, in different ways. That said, ever since my etc.), the better prepared you will be to solo travel will automatically throw you be a shame! Solo travel is the ultimate Iceland’s growth rate for January to April of this year still first solo adventure, I have always been an handle anything. Even if you’re not ful- into social settings and opportunities to freedom as you can go when you want, increased 34.9 percent. advocate of encouraging others to give it ly prepared, stepping out of your com- get to know others and other cultures. where you want and at a budget you can (Source: Forbes) a whirl. It has hands down offered me the fort zone by traveling somewhere alone Freedom afford. You and only you get to decide. best experiences of my life. There is an will help you gain confidence to take on I know there are people out there who With solo travel, you need to know what endless list of benefits to jet setting alone the world. Given you’re entering the un- say they aren’t interested in solo travel you’re getting yourself into. You have only Russia, Iraq restore air and I want to help spread the inspiration known, it will offer opportunities to learn because they’d rather go with someone yourself to rely on, which can seem scary that really anyone can and should try it. how to face various types of scenarios. they know. There’s nothing wrong with but it is also invigorating. So, the next time travel after 13-year freeze Below are just a few examples of the impact Self-discovery preferring group travel - I like traveling you become inspired to go on a trip, and solo travel can have. Solo travel gives you a chance to listen with friends too. However, I do find my- you can’t find a friend to go with - do your- Russia and Iraq restored scheduled commercial airline services Independence & Empowerment to your gut and control what direction self cringing any time I hear someone self a favor and book it! This time for you. on Sunday for the first time since 2004, in what officials hailed Travelers who go on solo adventures you want to head. It allows you to reflect cancels a trip because a friend couldn’t (Source: Forbes) as a sign of stability returning to the war-torn country. An Iraqi Airways plane left Baghdad at 10.31 am (0731 GMT) and was expected to arrive at Moscow’s Vnukovo 10 of the best small-scale cruises worldwide airport at 2.19 pm (1119 GMT), according to the Russian Cruising needn’t mean multi-storey ships with thousands coral reefs and dine with a local community. airport’s online departure and arrival timetables. of passengers. We pick low-key boat trips where The Hebrides, Scotland companions are few but the sights are magnificent The other five guests, skipper and chef aren’t the only Mekong, Vietnam-Cambodia companions on this refitted “tall ship” in the Hebrides. In The first tourist ship to negotiate the river passage most remote, tranquil bays, passengers will be joined by from the Vietnamese Mekong to the more tranquil sea eagles, basking sharks, orcas and dolphins. Days can Cambodian side in 2003, the RV Mekong Pandaw is still be spent swimming, hiking, and sinking a shot of whisky doing the trip today. The 24 teak-and-brass cabins have or three. panoramic windows, and complimentary ice-cream is Nile temples, Egypt served from dawn to dusk on the sundeck. Tutankhamun isn’t the only Egyptian royal with Evia, Greece history on the Nile. In 1938, Egypt’s last king, Farouk, Evia is Greece’s second-largest island, and more popular launched his steamship, the Misr, on the river. Restored with domestic tourists than foreigners. Take the kids and to its former glory in 2006, it has 24 plush cabins packed explore by caique, the region’s traditional wooden fishing with antiques, all with marble bathrooms. boat, stopping to scramble among ancient ruins, swim in Gota canal, Sweden the Aegean and load up on feta and filo in local tavernas. temples and villages, and serve coconut-laced curries Cruise Sweden’s “Blue Ribbon”, part of a 614km under the stars. This file photo taken on August 5, 2014 shows an Iraqi Bodrum, Turkey waterway linking Gothenburg to the Baltic, on a Senegal to Gambia Airways Boeing 747 sitting at Baghdad International People have been building boats on this stretch of steamer and watch castles, churches and villages float Experience the wilder side of cruising on a voyage Airport. the Aegean coast since classical times, and from the by. The 25-cabin, 1912-built Wilhelm Tham has period outside, their traditional wooden, twin-masted gulets from Dakar down the coast of Senegal and up the furnishings and white tablecloths, and guests don’t have “The first commercial flight arrives today,” Sergei Izvolsky, look much as they ever did. But inside, it’s a different Gambia river in a 25-cabin yacht. There’s a stop in Banjul, to help at any of the 44 locks for which the canal was spokesman for Russia’s civil aviation authority, told AFP. story. Passengers sleep in eight comfortable cabins, and but most of the time you’re in pristine nature reserves, nicknamed “divorce ditch”. “It is a signal on the part of the Iraqi authorities that swap fishing duties for swimming, sunbathing and some spotting hippos, crocodiles, chimpanzees, bushbabies, Six island hop, Cape Verde Russian nationals can safely visit Iraq.” light sightseeing. and countless birds. Explore the Cape Verde archipelago with its mixture of The two countries may also later agree on air travel to the Kerala backwaters, India Island hopping, Maldives African and Portuguese heritage and welcoming locals Iraqi city of Basra, Izvolsky said. Most people just spend a night in Kerala’s palm-lined If over-water bungalows don’t float your boat, it doesn’t on a three-masted Motorsailer that can accommodate Russia suspended regular flights to Iraq in 2004 after the backwaters on a thatched houseboat, and stick to the mean the Maldives are a no-go area. Island-hopping on a up to 49 passengers in 24 cabins. It takes in coffee and US-led invasion in 2003 plunged the Arab country into war. busier channels. On this six-night trip, the crew will pilot traditional wooden dhoni with just five cabins, passengers sugar plantations, colonial towns and the Fogo volcano. (Source: Press TV) your one-cabin boat through quiet canals to tourist-free can sunbathe on uninhabited sands, snorkel over quiet (Source: The Guardian) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 SCIENCE 11 Forest fires are not limited to hot or Waze’s ambitious plan to temperate climates end traffic for good Forest fires and wildland fires are common Lacustrine sediments in summer in the temperate boreal forest, “It is therefore counterintuitive to im- In the mid-2000s, Waze Mobile co-founder Ehud Shabtai re- rarer at high altitudes, and unheard of in agine wildland fires in periglacial, sub- ceived a cutting-edge gift from his girlfriend: a GPS. an ice age at high altitudes - until now. polar or mountain areas. And yet (the The expensive gadget was supposed to be a helpful de- Evidence of wildfires dating back 20,000 discovery of) high mountain lacustrine vice. But straight out of the box, it was already out-of-date years was recently discovered in the Mas- sediments revealed just that. Wildfires and malfunctioning. sif du Queyras, in the heart of the French were indeed rare, but the presence of Shabtai, a longtime open-source coding enthusiast who Alps, 2,240 meters above sea level. wood charcoal confirmed that they did graduated from Tel Aviv University with degrees in computer The news comes in a joint Can- occur, even during glacial and postglacial science and philosophy, had the immediate instinct to re- ada-France study published in New periods.” invent. He thought the GPS display should better reflect a Phytologist and co-authored by Olivi- Wildfires occurred in the Massif du region’s changing infrastructure. er Blarquez, a geography professor at Queyras, situated between France and Italy, Shabtai’s solution? To build an app, joining the elite ranks Université de Montréal, and Christopher because the trees survived the ice age. of innovative entrepreneurs with ideas that resonate at scale. Carcaillet, a professor at the École Pra- Evidence of their existence has been With 80 million monthly active users globally and nearly tique des Hautes Études, in Paris, and at found in macro-remains such as leaves 400,000 superusers who function much like Wikipedia volun- the Laboratoire d’écologie des hydrosys- and seeds. teer editors (editing maps rather than words), Waze Mobile tèmes naturels et anthropisés (CNRS/Uni- However, a second area located fur- is no longer one coder’s curious upstart startup, but a rev- versité Lyon 1/ENTPE). ther north, in the Massif de la Vanoise olutionary approach to navigation that caught the eye of a “This discovery is not trivial,” said (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) where sedi- tech giant. Blarquez. “It echoes the recent wildfires in ment accumulated during the Last Glacial Acquired by Google for more than $1 billion in 2013, the Arctic tundra, where (the presence of) Maximum, shows no trace of vegetation. much of Waze’s value stems from its high rate of user en- trees have become increasingly common. 20,000 years, including the Last Gla- teractions between fires, vegetation and No evidence of wildfires was found in gagement. Unlike traditional navigation apps that simply The situation has drawn the attention of the cial Maximum, when ice sheets were at climate. this area, because without vegetation to dictate directions, Waze asks its users to report accidents, scientific community because of its signifi- their greatest extension. The researchers’ “Wildfires spread when fuel is availa- burn, fire couldn’t spread. backups and other road conditions in real time so other users cant impact on the (Earth’s) carbon cycle. findings suggest there was a tree glacial ble and the climate is dry,” said Carcaillet, In the Queyras, Swiss stone pines and can dodge the traffic by using an alternate route. Global warming refugium during this period, when wild- who is also co-director of the Laboratoire larches formed an isolated tree glacial Participation is incentivized through “gamification” — us- Changes in high mountain forest cov- fires were able to break out. The authors international associé franco-canadien refugium, “like an island in the middle of ers can earn points, badges and other rewards while listening er due to global warming, and especially also consider the complex long-term in- MONTABOR. an ocean of ice,” according to the study. to playful variations on audio navigation (Morgan Freeman’s the abandonment of agricultural land, Protected during the Last Glacial Max- voice, for example). risk exacerbating the spread of wildfires It is therefore counterintuitive to imagine imum, these trees could be the genetic (Source: Sponsored) in the coming years.” wildland fires in periglacial, subpolar or ancestors of the Swiss stone pines and In their study, Blarquez and Carcail- larches that still grow in the valleys of the let reconstruct wildland fire frequency mountain areas. And yet (the discovery of) high Western Alps. and forest composition over the past mountain lacustrine sediments revealed just that. (Source: eurekalert.org) How your morning cup of coffee can help save the How humans are spreading germs all over the globe world, says expert Humans are transporting trillions of bacteria around the Bacterial population structures are definitely chang- Bambi Semroc is a senior strategic adviser in Conservation world via tourism, food and shipping, without stopping ing, and bacterial species are being transported to new International’s Center for Environmental Leadership in Busi- to think about the potential damage being caused to locations, becoming the microbial equivalent of weeds ness. In this role, she leads the Sustainable Coffee Challenge, bacterial ecosystems. or feral animals. Perhaps some bacteria are even on their an industry-wide effort to make coffee the first sustainable When we think about endangered species, we typically way to extinction, although we don’t really have enough agricultural product in the world. think of charismatic mammals such as whales, tigers or pan- information to be certain yet. das. But the roughly 5,500 mammal species on Earth is a rela- How do they get around? tively paltry number – and it pales in comparison with bacteria, Let’s start by talking about sewage and manure. An- of which there are at least a million different species. imal and human feces release gut microorganisms back Despite their vast numbers, little research has been into the environment, and these organisms are vastly done to understand the impact that modern human different from the organisms that would have been re- practices have on these tiny organisms, which have an leased 100 years ago. This is because humans and our important influence on many facets of our lives. domesticated animals – cows, sheep, goats, pigs and Then there are the 1.2 billion international tourist Human effects chickens – now comprise 35 times more biomass than movements per year, which also unintentionally trans- Human effects on our planet are so profound that all the wild mammals on land. port gut microorganisms to exotic locations. For in- we have entered a new geological age, called the An- Human sewage and livestock manure contain very stance, tourism can rapidly spread antibiotic resistant thropocene. One of the key features of this new world specific subsets of microbes, meaning those populations pathogens between continents. is the way we affect other organisms. We have altered are enriched and replenished in the environment, at the It’s not just humans and their food that cause concern the distribution of animals and plants, creating problems expense of the native microbes. – there are also vast quantities of microbe-laden mate- with feral animals, weeds and other invasive species. We Gut organisms rials that move along with us. Each year, roughly 100 have caused many species to decline so much that they Waste water, sewage sludge and manure are used million tons of ballast water are discharged from ships Coffee trees are picky, growing only in parts of the trop- have gone extinct. extensively in agriculture. So gut organisms from hu- in U.S. ports alone. This movement of microorganisms ics with the right mix of temperatures, rainfall, and soil. There are also grounds for concern over the way humans mans and agricultural animals go on to contaminate via shipping is changing the distribution of bacteria in As such, they’re extremely vulnerable to climate change. are affecting bacterial species, and in many cases we are caus- foodstuffs. These food products, along with their bacte- the oceans. It also transports pathogens such as cholera. Rising average temperatures and erratic rainfall will mean ing the same type of problems that affect larger organisms. ria, are then shipped around the world. (Source: Cosmos Magazine) that coffee won’t be able to thrive in many of the places it now grows, and coffee farmers will need to move their farms to new areas — mostly to higher altitudes, clearing Ayandeh Bank to Allocate 3,000b Rials to SMEs in 2nd Half of Current Year tropical forests as they go — or switch to other crops to Ayandeh Bank will earmark 3,000 billion to spur production, the Public Relations been cited as the main aim behind of- try, Mine and Trade at the following address: earn a living. rials worth of loans and facilities to Small- Dept. of the bank reported. fering loans to SMEs in the country. www.behinyab.ir and then refer to the selected This affects a lot of people. There are more coffee lovers and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Materializing objectives of resistance For this purpose, respected applicants are branches of the bank in the nationwide in or- than ever: More than 2.25 billion cups of coffee are con- the second six months of the current Irani- economy and actualizing the motto of first cordially requested to log on the portal of der to take advantage of services of the bank, sumed every day, and global demand for coffee is expected an calendar year (to start Sept. 22) in order “production and employment” have services introduced by the Ministry of Indus- Public Relations Dept. ended. to rise by up to 150 percent rise by 2050. Shrinking supplies, more demand: There is, quite literally, no time to lose to pro- tect the coffee that you drink, the climate and ecosystems that coffee needs, and the tens of millions of small-scale A Credit Line Worth $10b Inks between China’s CITIC Trust and Bank Pasargad farmers who make their living growing the crop. An agreement worth $10 billion was signed and sealed Also, taking advantage of China’s midterm credit I came to work in conservation through my love of trees. between Bank Pasargad and China’s CITIC Bank, the line in export and production projects and short-term But in the past few years, it’s the coffee tree — yes, a tree that Public Relations Dept. of the bank reported. financing before and after export will be put atop produces a beverage I don’t even drink — that has taken up The signing ceremony was held in the presence of agenda out of currency resources of Bank Pasargad, much of my time and effort. I’m happy to report, then, that Governor of Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Valiollah Seif, Ira- the report added. the coffee industry is waking up to the new climate reality, nian Ambassador to Beijing Ali-Asghar Khaji, Head of This contract will pave suitable ways for the two and is now taking serious steps to make coffee sustainable. Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical countries for broadening economic ties. That’s where the Sustainable Coffee Challenge comes Assistance of Iran Mohammad Khazaee, senior chief As a leading privately-funded bank in the country, in. The Challenge was born two years ago to bring to- executives of the two banks, etc. Bank Pasargad offers quality currency services to its cli- gether players from throughout the coffee sector, big and Accordingly, China’s $10 billion worth of investment ents such as opening various types of letters of credit small, to make coffee the world’s first sustainable agricul- in Iran will be earmarked as finance in industrial and (L/Cs), currency transfer, transacting and opening cur- tural product. production projects in the fields of management of wa- rency accounts and also issuance of various types of (Source: Mashable) ter resources, energy, environment and transport, etc. Bank Pasargad currency guarantee letters, etc.

International Conference on ‘MFCA’ to Be Hosted by IRAN Cereal rye is effective at The international conference on ‘Ma- present their latest findings of successful years in many industrial units in Germa- istry of Industry, Mine and Trade’, ‘Iran reducing Amaranthus spp. terial Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA)’ experiences on the implementation of ny, Japan, Malaysia, etc. and led to the Small Industries and Industrial Parks Or- density in soybean crops will be hosted by I.R.IRAN, from 28th MFCA. Mr. Zinouri, from Malaysia, will compilation of ISO 14051. The method ganization’, ‘National Iranian Oil Com- to 30th of Shahrivar [September, 19- represent the APO in the conference. has led to promotion of productivity, re- pany’, Sahand University of Technology’, Fall-planted cover crops are often used as part of an inte- 21, 2017], with cooperation of the Na- Also, 80 experts and practitioners duction of final price, and protection of and the ‘Islamic Azad University, Science grated weed control program in herbicide-resistant soybean tional Iranian Productivity Organiza- of green productivity will attend the con- environment. & Research Branch’ and aims to educate, crops. But researchers writing in the journal Weed Technolo- tion (NIPO) and the Asian Productivity ference including experts from I.R.Iran, It is noteworthy that, the National disseminate, and standardize the execu- gy say not all cover crops are equally effective against Palmer Organization (APO). Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Committee of MFCA has been formed tive fundamentals of the technique. amaranth, waterhemp and other Amaranthus spp. weeds. As reported by the Public Relations Nepal, Pakistan, Republic of China, Sri by NIPO and with cooperation of rele- It is notable that the book ‘Manual Their conclusions follow a two-year, multistate study to of NIPO, well-known and distinguished Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. vant executive agencies including ‘Min- on Material Flow Cost Accounting: ISO compare the impact of cereal rye, spring oat, forage radish professors and resource persons from MFCA is known as one of the mod- istry of Economic Affairs and Finance’, 14051’ written by Hiroshi Tachikava has and annual ryegrass on weed control and crop yields. The Germany, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Ja- ern techniques of Green Productivity ‘Department of Environment’, ‘Iranian been translated and published by NIPO study was conducted in areas with known infestations of Am- pan, Republic of China, and Vietnam will which has been practiced during recent National Standard Organization’, ‘Min- for the use of experts in this field. aranthus spp. weeds. Two herbicide programs were used. The first involved a preemergence residual herbicide, followed by a postemer- Public and Private Firms Can Take Advantage of China’s New Finance Scheme: EDBI gence application of a foliar and residual herbicide. The sec- ond program added a second postemergence application of China’s new finance scheme is earmarked to Iranian of using Chinese finance scheme, the most important of valued at €15 billion in order to finance development residual herbicide. public and private companies and now it is usable. which should be referred to the capability of repaying the and production projects in Iran.” Researchers found there were no variations in weed con- Dr. Ali Salehabadi Chief Executive of Export De- loans received under finance scheme, he maintained. In the end, Dr. Ali Salehabadi Chief Executive of Ex- trol or in crop yields among the various cover crops used as velopment Bank of Iran (EBDI) announced the above Two banking docs were inked in the course of re- port Development Bank of Iran (EBDI) said that anoth- part of an integrated control program with herbicides. Cereal statement and said: “Projects of applicants should en- cent trip of Iranian banking delegation to China, he er contract was inked between five Iranian banks and rye, though, consistently reduced the density of Amaranthus joy economic and technical justifications.” said, adding: “In this regard, a Memorandum of Under- China’s CITING Trust Bank, the Public Relations Dept. spp. weeds, even in the absence of herbicides. Necessary criteria have been defined for applicants standing (MOU) was signed between Iran and China, ended. (Source: EurekAlert) ساعت: 17:20 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 WOMEN SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

Back-to-school season, a Tehran hosts “women, the meaningful event for moms By Naghmeh Mizanian architects of peace” congress WOMENTEHRAN — An Although at the first year of United The smell of autumn is felt. The streets are all astir with the desk arrival of school days once again. international congress Nations’ activity, women made up only Children, holding hands of their mother walk toward stores with the theme of “women, the one percent of peacekeepers, today, buying school uniforms, bags, books and other supplies. architects of peace” was held here on after seven decades, women compose The children are happy yet worried. Moms are happier Sunday on the occasion of the World 29 percent of peacekeepers, Dotsenko and more worried. Peace Day, which is annually marked on announced. The children show their joy and anxiety. Moms show their September 21. Women play a vital role in joy but never reveal their worry. Mothers believe their chil- The congress was held with the peacekeeping, she said, emphasizing dren should never touch their anxiety. cooperation of the Institute for Protection that women’s presence in peacekeeping What will they learn at school? Who would be their teach- of Women’s Rights (IPWR), The UNESCO operations is protecting peace in the er? Who would be their classmates? Who would be their Chair for Human Rights, Peace and whole world. close friend? How will they deal with their lessons and home- Democracy (UNESCO CHRPD) of Shahid Developing an approach to work? What happens on the route to school? Beheshti University, and the Ministry of organizing peace in world is owing to What should I prepare for my kids’ school snacks and Foreign Affairs. women attempt on improving peace and foods? How should I help my children in their homework? President Rouhani proposed a women take responsibility of some part How can I make them aware about our family rules and its world free of violence: UNIC director of peacekeeping operation. difference with others? Iran is one of the first countries to The United Nations was created with As a mother, I am happy that my child is experiencing take steps in approving a resolution for the aim of removing war from the world what I have experienced many years ago. Maybe I am ex- a region free from nuclear weapons Dr. Maria Dotsenko and peace is the main priority of the UN, periencing my own feeling once more. I am feeling my own in 1960s, Director of United Nations Dotsenko stated. President Hassan Rouhani has been nuclear deal, is a great achievement emotions in my children’s hearts. Information Centre (UNIC) in Tehran A number of 170 peace agreements suggesting a world free of violence which toward promoting peace and security in When schools open, I am happy that my children will learn Dr. Maria Dotsenko said referring to have been signed during the long history have been approved in a resolution by the region, Dotsenko stated. much lessons. They will be more experienced and mature. the rich history of Iran its peacekeeping of the UN and a number of 60 countries the United Nations, she added. 29% of UN peacekeepers are For me the school season means more discipline for my- stance. which were in war are currently in peace BARJAM, the acronym for the Iran women self as well as my children. They are not bored anymore and I One of the recent initiatives of and security, she concluded. should not arrange different refreshment programs for them. Although I should wake up early at the morning, when the sun has not risen yet, and I will be the first person to wake Sculpture of Maryam Mirzakhani to be unveiled WOMENTEHRAN — An sculpture of Mathematical Olympiad received her Bachelor of up acting as an alarming clock, I am happy that the daylight desk is short during the school season and the family will gather renowned Iranian mathematician Science in mathematics from Iran’s Sharif University early in the evenings. Maryam Mirzakhani is to be unveiled today at the of Technology in 1999 and earned a PhD degree in At school season, the family has its real meaning; the National Library and Archive of the Islamic Republic of mathematics from Harvard University in 2004. gathering of all members at a warm home in the cold au- Iran (NLAI). From 2004 to 2008 she was a Clay Mathematics tumn and winter. Mirzakhani, 40, fought with cancer for four years and Institute Research Fellow and an assistant professor at Although, like any mother I wish my kids gain many suc- died of breast cancer at a hospital in the U.S. on July 14. Princeton University. She was a professor at Stanford cess in their life and reach high educational levels, I promise The family of the late mathematician, the director of University. Her honors include the 2009 Blumenthal myself not to make them a tool for compensating what I have NLAI, Ashraf Boroujerdi, and other cultural and scientific Award for the Advancement of Research in Pure not reached in my own life. I promise myself not to make personalities will participate in the unveiling ceremony. Mathematics and the 2013 Satter Prize of the American them a tool for show off. Maryam Mirzakhani, was the first-ever female winner Mathematical Society. I promise myself to help my children to take pleasure of of the prestigious Fields Medal prize Mirzakhani also became the first woman and the first their childhood and make school days happy days for them The two times gold medal winner in the International Iranian to be awarded a Fields Medal. instead of days full of stress for marks and grades. I try my best to grow a happy, healthy, knowledgeable and responsible human being instead of a depressed, unhappy Tajikistan to ban hijab as restrictions on religious freedom continues scientist. Tajik lawmakers have approved a law that According to Tajik officials, in August of institutions demanded that their employees against Islam. Names derived from promi- obliges individuals and organizations “to ad- more than 8,000 hijab-wearing women not wear hijabs to work. “Wearing the hijab nent figures in Islam, such as Sumayyah, Ai- here to traditional and national Tajik clothing were stopped in public places across the and blindly copying a culture that is foreign to sha and Asiya, were once almost nonexist- LEARN ENGLISH and culture,” a move widely seen as an effort Tajik capital of Dushanbe by state officials us is not a sign of having high moral and eth- ent in Tajikistan, a Muslim-majority country, to discourage people from wearing the hijab who pressured them to wear head scarves ical standards for women. We have many ex- but have become the most popular names Daily Life - Buying a Car and Islamic clothing in the predominantly in the style of “traditional national clothing,” amples of women wearing the hijab who take for girls in recent years. Muhammad, Yusuf Muslim country. The Lower House of Par- which refers to tying the scarf in a knot be- illegal drugs, participate in human trafficking and Abu-Bakr are among the most popu- A: Hi there, can I help you folks? liament passed the bill on Aug. 23, and the hind the head in a way that leaves the front and other things that are far from Tajik culture lar names for boys. Some Tajik members of B: I’m just browsing; seeing what’s on the lot. My daughter bill is expected to be approved by the Upper of the neck exposed. The new bill does not and the honor of Tajik women. The hijab was parliament were reportedly demanding that wants a car for her birthday, you know how it is. House of Parliament and signed into law by introduce a penalty for breaking the rule, a sign of poor education and incivility,” he was existing Arabic-sounding names should be C: Dad! I’m sixteen already and I’m, like, the only one at Tajik President Emomoli Rahmon. but some have claimed that fines could be quoted as saying in 2015. Since May 2016, of- changed to Tajik-Persian names. school who doesn’t have a car! On Sept. 6, text message notifications introduced at a later date. ficials have closed down scores of shops that In 2011, a law was approved that A: She is right, you know. Kids these days all have cars. Let me were sent to some 6 million users from pri- Tajik Minister of Culture Shamsiddin sell women’s religious clothing that does not banned children under the age of 18 from show you something we just got in: a 1996 sedan. Excellent vate mobile phone companies in Tajikistan, Orumbekzoda said that Islamic dress is “re- conform to values that the Tajik government attending Friday prayers in the predomi- gas mileage, it has dual airbags and anti-lock brakes; a calling on them to obey the new law that ally dangerous,” indicating that everyone calls “national traditions.” nantly Muslim country. Tajiks under the age perfect vehicle for a young driver. was passed in a new bill that makes the looks at women wearing hijabs in the coun- Tajik Justice Minister Rustam Shohmurod of 35 were banned from attending Hajj C: Dad, I love it! It’s awesome! Can we get this one please? wearing of Tajik national clothing obligatory try with concern, worried that they could be said in June 2016, that “foreign” names, in 2015 by the State Committee for Reli- B: I see... What can you tell me about this one? at traditional gatherings. The text message, hiding something under their hijab, Radio especially Arabic-sounding names, have gious Affairs (SCRA). In June, Tajik officials A: Oh, that’s just an old World War Two tank that we use for written by the State Committee, reads: Free Europe reported. caused divisions in Tajik society. Previously, in announced that citizens under the age of “Observe Tajik traditional clothes. … Respect President Rahmon’s first criticism was May 2015, representatives debated wheth- 40 are banned from performing this year’s TV commercials. Now about this sedan... traditional clothes and ‘Let’s make it a tradi- voiced over the issue in 2015 when a cam- er to ban Arabic names and Arabic words annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. B: Whoa, whoa wait a minute. Tell me more about this tank. tion to wear traditional clothes’.” paign was launched against the hijab. Heads in Tajik as part of an ongoing campaign (Source: Daily Sabah) A: Well, Sir, if you are looking for quality and safety then look no further! Three inches of reinforced steel protect your daughter from short range missile attacks. Four U.S. women attacked with acid in France, officials say B: Does the sedan protect her from missile attacks? Four young U.S. women were attacked with acid Sunday officials could not be 100 percent sure about ruling out A: It does not. in the French city of Marseille by a woman who has been terrorist links so early stage in the investigation. B: Well, I don’t know. Let me sleep on it. arrested, the Marseille prosecutor’s office said. The spokeswoman spoke on condition of anonymity, A: Did I mention the tank is a tank? Two of the tourists were injured in the face in the at- per the custom of the French judicial system. She re- B: I’ll take it! tack in the city’s main Saint Charles train station, and one leased no further details. C: Dad! of them has a possible eye injury, a spokeswoman for the The Marseille fire department was alerted just after Key Vocabulary prosecutor’s office told The Associated Press. 11 a.m. and dispatched four vehicles and 14 firefighters browse: look around to see if anything is interesting She said all four of the women, who are in their 20s, to the train station, a department spokeswoman said. sedan: a car with four doors have been hospitalized, two of them for shock. A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Paris said the U.S. gas mileage: the amount of gas used per mile The young women are all juniors at Boston College, consulate in Marseille was in contact with French authorities dual airbags: two airbags, one for the driver and one for the the university said in a statement Sunday afternoon. about the investigation and the women’s conditions. passenger They were treated at a hospital but have since been re- U.S. authorities in France were not immediately com- brake: a device that slows down or stops something leased, it said. Gare de Marseille Saint Charles, where U.S. tourists were targeted menting to protect the tourists’ privacy, embassy spokes- vehicle: something that carries people from one place to “It appears that the students are fine, considering the in an acid attack on Sunday man Alex Daniels said. another circumstances, though they may require additional treat- In previous incidents in Marseille, a port city in south- acid in their face for no apparent reason whatsoever.” reinforce: strengthen, make something stronger ment for burns,” said Nick Gozik, director of the college’s ern France closer to Barcelona in Spain than to Paris, Authorities had so far offered no motive, Dunn said, sleep on it: think about something further and make a Office of International Programs. “We have been in con- a driver deliberately rammed into two bus stops last tact with the students and their parents and remain in adding that the students would probably remain in Eu- month, killing a woman. Officials said the attack wasn’t decision later (informal) touch with French officials and the U.S. Embassy regard- rope for the rest of the semester. terrorism-related. Supplementary Vocabulary ing the incident.” The Paris prosecutor’s office said its counterterrorism French police say that in April they thwarted an immi- minivan: a vehile that is larger than a car, has four doors and Boston College identified the students as Courtney Siver- division has decided for the time being not to assume nent “terror attack” and arrested two suspected radicals is shaped like a box ling, Charlotte Kaufman and Michelle Krug, who are enrolled jurisdiction for investigating the attack. The prosecutor’s in Marseille just days before the first round of presidential SUV: a large vehicle that is suitable to run on rough surfaces in the school’s Paris program, and Kesley Korsten, who was office in the capital, which has responsibility for all terror- election. Paris prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters sale: an event where goods or services are sold at a price studying at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. ism-related cases in France, did not explain its reasoning. that the two suspects “were getting ready to carry out an lower than usual Jack Dunn, the school’s vice president of communi- The spokeswoman for the Marseille prosecutor’s of- imminent, violent action” on French territory. promotion: something (usually advertising) that is done to cations, told NBC Boston that the students were friends fice said the 41-year-old female suspect did not make In January 2016, a 15-year-old Turkish Kurd was ar- increase sales and had gone to Marseilles for the weekend. They were any extremist threats or declarations during the attack. rested after attacking a Jewish teacher on a Marseille discount: the amount of reduction in price waiting for a train back to Paris, Dunn said, when “they She said there were no obvious indications that the street. He told police that he acted in the name of ISIS. bargain: something bought or sold at a price lower than its were somehow picked out by this woman who threw woman’s actions were terrorism-related but added that (Source: NBC News) actual value (Source: irlanguage.com) UN forum to ‘creatively disrupt’ status quo for women and girls in tech The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the release announcing the launch. It will also work collaboratively to identify key actions Empowerment of Women (UN Women) on Thursday “Through the Global Innovation Coalition for Change that can help overcome these barriers through actions launched the Global Innovation Coalition for Change with and similar partnerships we can bring together the best including sharing of good practices, developing capacity partners from the private sector, the academia and non- of academic brain power and research, industry practical and investing in specific innovations through targeted governmental organizations to encourage innovation know-how, and civil society’s drive and reach to creatively support. and technology work better for young women and girls disrupt the status quo,” she added. Additionally, underscoring the importance of around the world. According to UN Women, the partnership will focus partnership with the private sector to advance gender “Innovation and technology provide unprecedented on building market awareness of the potential for equality and women’s empowerment through innovation Have an idea? opportunities to reach those who are the most likely to innovations that meet the needs of women through and technology UN Women noted that the Global be left out of the benefits of progress. They can break research and advocacy and will also identify the key Innovation Coalition for Change is an important step to Be in touch! women out of isolation and create a market for their industry-specific barriers that obstruct women’s and bring about transformative change in the lives of women [email protected] innovative ideas and products,” said Phumzile Mlambo- girls’ advancement in innovation, technology and and girls. Ngcuka, the Executive Director of UN Women, in a news entrepreneurship. (Source: UN News Center) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 More than 80 arrested in third night of 76 figures ask U.S., EU St. Louis protests in U.S. leaders to sustain Iran Protesters angry over the acquittal of Wilson said, for Stockley to hide it from St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley, the cameras at the scene. nuclear deal a white cop acquitted of murder in the St. Louis had been on edge for days shooting death of a black man, attacked during the trial, and demonstrations 1 US action that jeopardizes the Iran nuclear deal would police, broke windows and flipped over began soon after the acquittal was an- trigger a crisis in US-Europe relations, damaging the US’s in- trash cans on Sunday night. More than nounced. ternational standing and credibility in Europe. 80 people were arrested, authorities said. On Friday some protesters locked The statement’s signatories, who include Javier Solana, The demonstrations began peacefully, arms and prayed together, but within former EU High Representative and NATO Secretary Gener- but erupted in violence after nightfall, of- hours others smashed the windshield of al, George Robertson, former British Defence Secretary and ficials said. Amid the melees that ensued, a police vehicle and threw water bottles, former NATO Secretary General, Igor Ivanov former Russian some protesters broke concrete flower rocks and bricks at law enforcement. Foreign Minister, and Wolfgang Ischinger, Chair of the Mu- pots and used the broken pieces as pro- St. Louis police said the demonstrators nich Security Conference,Osman Faruk Logoglu, former Turk- jectiles. later threw rocks at the mayor’s home ish Ambassador the United States, argue that unilateral US It was the third night of protests, which and that 11 law enforcement officers had action to decertify Iran’s compliance when the International began on Friday after Stockley was ac- been injured. Atomic Energy Agency confirms that Iran is compliant would quitted in the killing of 24-year-old An- At least 33 people were arrested, ac- damage not only US interests but also US international stand- thony Lamar Smith. During a 2011 chase, cording to a police tweet. Video footage ing. They express their support for the nuclear deal, arguing which ensued after Stockley and his part- showed officers using tear gas to dis- that it has improved global and European security and that ner suspected Smith had been involved perse the crowds after police said the losing it would be particularly damaging to Europe. in a drug deal, Stockley was heard saying nights have been destructive. After the sideways, and Stockley fired at the vehi- protests were considered an unlawful Coordinated through the pan-European security think- he was “going to kill this motherf***er.” demonstrations, organizers announce cle, before Bianchi and Stockley pursued assembly. O’Toole said his officers used tank, the European Leadership Network, the statement calls Prosecutors alleged that Stockley also that the daytime protests are over. But a Smith at speeds up to 80 mph. The police pepper balls. on: planted a gun at the scene, but the judge group of agitators stay behind, apparent- vehicle crashed into Smith’s Buick in an On Saturday, peaceful protests also -President Trump and the US Congress to address Iranian in the bench trial didn’t buy it. Stockley ly intent on breaking windows and de- attempt to avoid hitting a truck, the re- heated up with a group of protesters compliance on the terms of the deal, not on other points; un- had opted for a trial in which a judge stroying property. This is not acceptable,” port said. Before the crash, Stockley told throwing bricks, rocks and projectiles with derstand that the deal cannot be expected to solve non-nu- would decide the verdict, with no jury. Krewson added. Bianchi to “hit him right now,” the report paint at police as officers tried to disperse clear issues; and accept that the fastest path to an Iranian Sunday’s vandalism unfolded in a While lending her support to law en- said. the crowds. Nine people were arrested. nuclear weapon would be to undermine this agreement. “concentrated area,” said acting Police forcement, Krewson conceded, “We have Stockley approached with his weap- Some people vented about the court’s -The deal’s European signatories – the European Union Commissioner Larry O’Toole. Police ar- work to do here in the city. We need on drawn. He said in the internal report decision to acquit Stockley, others called and the German, French, Russian and British governments – rested demonstrators after the violence, more and better opportunities for all our he ordered Smith to show his hand and for some city leaders to step down. to make clear publicly as well as privately that they would be which included assaults and chemical at- citizens.” Still, the destruction can’t be tol- believed the suspect was reaching for a Demonstrators briefly invaded two unable to support the United States in the UN Security Coun- tacks on officers, police said. erated, she said. handgun, the report said. area malls over the weekend. Many cil and would work to see the nuclear deal continued with “Some criminals assaulted law en- The acquittal “In fear for my safety and that of my chanted, “Black lives matter,” video on so- Iran in the absence of US participation, including defending forcement officers and threw chemicals Stockley shot and killed Smith in De- partner,” Stockley said in the report, “I dis- cial media shows. European companies and individuals from any re-introduced and rocks at them. All of the officers’ cember 2011. The officer and his partner, charged my department-issued firearm Stockley left the St. Louis Metropoli- US sanctions. injuries were minor or moderate. All will Brian Bianchi, tried to stop Smith after at the subject striking him in the chest.” tan Police Department in August 2013. The Director of the European Leadership Network, Sir be returned to duty soon,” O’Toole said. witnessing a suspected drug transaction, Stockley then entered Smith’s car “to Later that year, the St. Louis police board Adam Thomson, said,“Unilateral US action against the Iran “We’re in control. This is our city, and according to an internal police depart- locate the weapon and render it safe,” settled a wrongful death suit with Smith’s nuclear deal would be a fast route to a second nuclear crisis we’re going to protect it.” ment report the Post-Dispatch obtained. the report said. He removed ammunition survivors for $900,000. alongside that with North Korea and would trigger a deep Police made the latter sentiment clear, Stockley said Smith backed into their from the silver revolver, he said in the re- State and federal authorities did not US-Europe division. Iran’s agreement is as much with Europe according to multiple reports, including police SUV (sport utility vehicle) twice in port. initially prosecute Stockley. Then-St. Lou- (and Russia and China) as with the United States. This state- that of a St. Louis Post-Dispatch pho- an apparent attempt to harm them. Af- Forensic analysis revealed that Stock- is Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce later ment underlines how much Europe’s voice needs to be heard tographer, which said that officers began ter Bianchi told Stockley that he believed ley’s was the only DNA present on the charged him with first-degree murder in in Washington.” chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets!” Smith was armed, Stockley exited the gun he said belonged to Smith, the crim- May 2016, citing new evidence. after making arrests on Tucker Boulevard. SUV with his department-issued hand- inal complaint said. After Friday’s ruling, Smith’s family said St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said the gun. He also had a personal AK-47 pistol, But in Friday’s ruling, St. Louis Circuit they believed the judge had made the Iraq top court rules majority of protesters were not violent a violation of department policy, accord- Judge Timothy Wilson said the prosecu- wrong decision and they would look at and blamed the vandalism on agitators. ing to the report. tion’s argument was “not supported by taking other legal steps. to suspend Kurdish “The days have been calm, but the Smith sped away, knocking Stockley the evidence.” The gun was too large, (Source: CNN) referendum

Saudi prince purging dissent before rise to throne 1 Guterres said in a statement on Sunday that any dispute between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Re- 1 Authorities last week arrested around two Vision 2030. gional Government should be resolved through dialogue and dozen people, including influential clerics, in what activ- A slump in oil prices has prompted the House of Saud “constructive compromise”. ists decried as a coordinated crackdown. regime to take steps to reduce the kingdom’s generous Guterres urged Iraqi leaders to “approach this matter with Analysts say many of those detained are resistant to welfare system after decades of using its vast energy patience and restraint” and offered UN help to address the MBS’s aggressive foreign policy that includes the boy- resources to pay generous salaries and benefits. issue. cott of Persian Gulf neighbor Qatar as well as some of This direct outreach to youth amid Saudi regime’s British minister to press Kurds to drop referendum his bold reforms, including privatizing state assets and transition to a post-oil era marks a clear departure from Elsewhere, Britain’s Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has cutting subsidies. the past, when previous rulers appeared more inclined said he would try to persuade the KRG president to call off Saudi regime officials have instead suggested a for- to court society’s elders out of a deference to age. the controversial September 25 independence referendum. eign plot to overthrow the government, without disclos- But sluggish economic growth and soaring youth un- “I will be this afternoon in Erbil to tell Massoud Barzani ing details. employment could hinder MBS’s outreach. that we do not support the Kurdish referendum,” he said at a “In recent years we cannot recall a week in which so His reform plan seeks to reduce reliance on oil and press conference in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad. many prominent Saudi Arabian figures have been tar- develop the regime’s industrial and investment base to “We are committed to the integrity of Iraq. We are working geted in such a short space of time,” said Samah Hadid, generate more private-sector jobs for young Saudis. with the UN on alternatives to this referendum,” he added. a director at Amnesty International. Foreign diplomats predict MBS could well be in con- MBS, who boasts of close ties to the White House, PMF deployed in Kirkuk Mohammed bin Salman became the Saudi regime’s trol of Saudi Arabia for at least half a century. also appears to be empowering third-generation royals, The People’s Mobilization Units (PMU/Al-Hashd Al- crown prince in a secretive push that had been planned With his youth a novelty in a country accustomed to with several younger princes holding deputy positions in Sha’abi) has entered Kirkuk south of Erbil. out in advance, a report says. ageing rulers, MBS has sought to woo young Saudis by various ministries and regional governments. “It’s chaotic there,” Muhammad Mahdi al-Bayati, a senior To analysts, MBS’s meteoric rise has seemed almost putting sports and entertainment on the cutting edge A series of full-page ads in Saudi regime newspapers leader of Iraq’s the PMU, said, describing Kirkuk in the lead- Shakespearean in its aggression and calculation. In June, of his reform effort, dubbed Vision 2030, at the risk of recently extolled the virtues of the “charismatic” prince, up to the vote. Al-Bayati’s forces are deployed around Kirkuk he edged out a 58-year-old cousin, Prince Mohammed riling conservatives. tackling the unease in some quarters over his youth and as well as other disputed territories in Iraq’s north. “Everyone bin Nayef, to become heir to the throne. Public cinemas have long been banned inside the perceived inexperience. is under pressure,” he said, explaining that he feared a rogue At the time, Saudi regime television channels showed kingdom and there are few outlets for leisure activities. “His teachers describe him: He has never been part group of fighters could trigger larger clashes. “Anything the bearded MBS kissing the hand of the older prince MBS made a rare appearance this month in the foot- of a problem,” said the ad by a regional men’s maga- could be the spark that burns it all down.” and kneeling before him in a show of reverence. West- ball match that saw Saudi Arabia qualify for next year’s zine that profiled MBS, splashed with pictures from his Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq ern media reports later said that the deposed prince World Cup. Alone in what appeared to be a bullet-proof childhood. plans to hold the referendum on support for independence had been placed under house arrest, a claim strongly royal box, the smiling prince flashed the victory sign -- “Takes initiative and acts older than his age.” on September 25 in three governorates that make up the denied by Saudi regime authorities. an image embossed on a new government poster for (Source: AFP) region, and in disputed areas controlled by Kurdish forces, but which are claimed by Baghdad. The leaders of Iraq’s Kurdish region have said they hope Bahrain’s king denounces boycott of Israel, says citizens free to visit Israel the referendum will push Baghdad to come to the negotiat- Persian Gulf tiny state of Bahrain’s king Ham- anyahu described relations with the Arab ing table and create a path for independence. ad bin Isa Al Khalifah has called for an end world better than any other time. The Iraqi government and several other countries, including the to the Arab boycott of Israel, days after the “What’s happening now with the Arab United States, Iran and Turkey, have opposed the referendum. Israeli premier said relations with the Arab bloc states has never before happened (Source: agencies) states were better than any other time. in our history – even when we signed According to Israeli media, King Hamad’s agreements,” said Netanyahu. “What we made the remarks at an event hosted by have now is greater than anything else Snapchat blocks Al Jazeera pro-Israeli group Simon Wiesenthal Center in during any other period in Israel’s history.” Los Angeles, calling for diplomatic ties to be Last week, reports emerged that a secret in Saudi Arabia established with the Israeli regime. meeting was held between a leading Sau- King Hamad also told Simon Wie- di royal and senior Israeli officials in Tel Aviv, Snapchat has blocked access to Al Jazeera news articles and senthal Center director Rabbi Abraham and in June, leaked emails of the UAE’s am- videos in Saudi Arabia following a request from the govern- Cooper that Bahraini citizens are free bassador to the U.S. Yousef al-Otaiba’s sug- ment, a spokesperson for Snap Inc. has said. to visit Israel as they please. His stance gested that Abu Dhabi had established secret The House of Saud regime told the social media company that on Israel was welcomed by the Israeli links with pro-Israel think-tank Foundation for the Al Jazeera Discover Publisher Channel violated local laws. center’s director who hailed the monarch Defense of Democracies (FDD). “We make an effort to comply with local laws in the coun- as “ahead of the pack and smart.” Last year, a video of a ceremony to rusalem). Tel Aviv has defied international tions and Israel. tries where we operate,” a Snapchat spokesperson said in a “If I had to predict, I would tell you that mark the Jewish Hanukkah holiday host- calls to stop its construction activities on Thousands of volunteers worldwide statement on Sunday. the Arab world’s relationship with the state ed by Bahrain circulated on social media, the occupied Palestinian territories. have joined the BDS to help promote the Morad Rayyan, head of Incubation and Innovation Re- of Israel is going to dramatically change... showing Bahraini men in local kaffiyeh The regime has accused rights groups Palestinian cause of ending Israeli occu- search at Al Jazeera, said the move was “unprecedented”. This is a dinner tonight that’s hosted by a attire attending the party and dancing of contributing to the worldwide anti-Is- pation and oppression. Those include “Snapchat is a U.S.-based company, publicly traded, and Jewish organization that no one will say is with Orthodox Jews. The video prompt- raeli Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions international trade unions, NGOs, initi- it stands for freedom of expression. We are working on con- not so pro-Israel,” Cooper added. ed condemnation from the Palestinian (BDS) movement. The BDS was initiated atives, academic and business societies, tingency plans to ensure our content is available on other Cooper and his partner Marvin Hier movement Hamas that urged Bahrain to in 2005 by over 170 Palestinian organiza- trade unions, and cultural figures. platforms,” Rayyan said. met with King Hamed at the center and end the move towards normalizing ties tions that were pushing for “various forms Last year, the regime allocated $32 “We are urging them (Snapchat) to review the decision discussed the opening of a museum for with Israel. of boycott against Israel until it meets its million to fighting the high-profile move- that was made. They were that ones who invited us to be one religious tolerance in Bahrain’s capital About 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 obligations under international law.” ment. It has also banned anyone found of their news partners for the region.” Manama towards the end of the year. illegal settlements built since the 1967 The boycott of Israel was adopted by to support the BDS from entering the Is- There are about eight million Snapchat users in Saudi Arabia, The change of stance comes weeks occupation of the Palestinian territories the Arab League and its member states raeli-occupied territories. one of the largest audiences in the world for this social platform. after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Net- of the West Bank and East al-Quds (Je- and bars all relations between Arab na- (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 SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 Maria Sharapova: Serena Williams ‘owns me’ Wayne Rooney pleads In the space of one hour and eighteen minutes, Maria guilty to drink-driving Sharapova›s life would change for ever. On a sunny Saturday afternoon in July 2004, she charge, banned for 2 stepped onto Wimbledon›s Centre Court as an unknown years 17-year-old and walked off a household name. The precocious Russian teenager with the infectious, Wayne Rooney has been banned from driving for two years gleeful smile had beaten the world No. 1 and reigning and ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work as part of a champion Serena Williams. 12-month community order. With that victory in the final, Sharapova became the Rooney pleaded guilty to drink driving on a night out while third-youngest woman in history to be crowned champion his pregnant wife and their three sons were on holiday. at the All England Club. The Everton striker and former England captain was stopped “I remember a moment with my coach after winning by police when driving a woman›s black Volkswagen Beetle in a quarterfinal at that Wimbledon,” Sharapova tells CNN›s Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2 a.m. on Sept. 1. Don Riddell as she reflects on her victorious run to a first The 31-year-old was later arrested and bailed, and on Mon- grand slam title. day he entered his guilty plea at Stockport Magistrates› Court. “I was having my food after the match and a lot of peo- Rooney apologized for his actions in a statement issued to ple were coming up to me and saying ‹congratulations› Press Association Sport. and wanting to take a picture — people I›ve never met in The statement read: “Following today›s court hearing I want my life. publicly to apologize for my unforgivable lack of judgement in “I just noticed this wave (of people) and so did my coach. driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong. He immediately came up to me and he was almost whis- “I have already said sorry to my family, my manager and pering in my ear.” chairman and everyone at Everton FC. Now I want to apologize Sharapova describes that victory as a pivotal moment to all the fans and everyone else who has followed and support- in her career. ed me throughout my career. The endorsements and sponsorship deals began to rain en her for. Sharapova›s father insisted she go too, to “watch these “Of course I accept the sentence of the court and hope that I in, kickstarting ‹Brand Sharapova›. “Obviously it was a disappointing loss to her because incredible athletes,” she recalls him telling her. can make some amends through my community service.” That Sharapova had so much to gain from a single vic- she was expected to win,” she says. “I›m sure she expected “I want you to watch, and I want you to just look in their Rooney›s legal team asked District Judge John Temperley to tory only served to emphasize the opposite for her beaten to win that match, another Wimbledon final. eyes to see the desire and the passion, to see how they play consider not imposing a community order because of his ongo- opponent. “So I think that disappointment really, it stirred some- the game,” was Yuri Sharapova›s advice. ing charitable work. “Look, I think Serena, in that particular match, had thing up. She didn›t want to lose to me again.” Not wanting to give the sisters the “satisfaction” of see- However, the judge said he was “not convinced” that impos- everything to lose compared to myself,” she says. “I mean, I Though that day belonged to Sharapova, their head- ing her in the stands, Sharapova found an unconventional ing a large fine “would have the same effect.” was the underdog. If I lost that match, I would be the hap- to-head since makes for grim reading for the Russian. Not hiding place from which she could observe. Rooney was also told to pay £85 prosecution costs and a piest kid on the planet. since 2004 — a run stretching 13 years and 18 matches — “Okay, there›s a wooden shed behind the court,” she victim surcharge for the same amount. “Wimbledon finalist? Who would have thought? No has she tasted victory against Williams. explains. “It was like a video shed, where they do video The court heard Rooney was almost three times the legal one expected that from me. She›s a two-time defending “Well, I say she›s owned me,” the 30-year-old admits analysis. limit. champion, there›s a lot more on the line and I think I bluntly. “Which she has.” “And so I went in that shed and I was like peeking through A breathalyzer test showed his alcohol level was 104 micro- sensed that. Just a few years earlier, Sharapova recalls seeing Serena this little hole and just witnessing years of my life before me. grams in 100 milliliters of breath. “That didn›t scare me, it only wanted me to win more.” — and her sister Venus — for the first time while she was “They were already grand slam champions at the time The drink-drive limit in England and Wales is 35 micrograms In her book, Sharapova lucidly describes the way she attending the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. and just a few years later it was really as if someone took per 100 milliliters of breath. heard Williams sobbing in the locker room after the final. The coaches suspended lessons so the students could me and put me in a television screen and put me up against (Source: ESPN) Intruding in that most personal and painful of moments watch the Williams sisters practice for the few days that they Serena Williams.” is something Sharapova believes Williams has never forgiv- were there. (Source: CNN)

Dembele flies to Finland for Ronaldo returns as Madrid aim to Vettel’s hopes of regaining title lead surgery pressure leaders Barcelona wrecked in Singapore GP crash Ousmane Dembele has travelled to Finland to undergo sur- Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo Getafe on Saturday, with the French wing- Sebastian Vettel may well come to rue he said. gery on his hamstring, Barcelona have confirmed. will return to action against Real Betis on er set to miss around four months with a the errant turn of the steering wheel The trio were summoned to the stew- The France international tore part of a tendon in his left thigh Wednesday after serving a five-match ruptured hamstring. that triggered the first-corner collision ards after the race but found neither at during the 2-1 LaLiga victory at Getafe on Saturday. suspension, as the champions look to Madrid’s home clash with Betis marks taking the German out of the Singapore fault. Barca announced the following day that Dembele would re- keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Bar- the start of a run of league fixtures which, Grand Prix and wrecking his hopes of “This is a normal race accident which quire an operation and will be out of action for up to fourth celona. on paper, they should win, including regaining the overall championship can happen,” said the Mercedes team’s months. Ronaldo was sent off during the Span- home games against Espanyol, Eibar and lead. non-executive chairman and triple world “Ousmane Dembele traveled on Monday morning to Hel- ish Super Cup win over Barcelona on Las Palmas. Starting from pole with title-rival Ham- champion Niki Lauda. sinki, Finland, where he will undergo surgery to repair a rupture Aug. 13 and banned for five matches af- “If we carry on like this we can do a ilton only fifth, the Ferrari driver was ide- “If he (Vettel) would not have moved of the biceps femoris tendon in his left thigh,” the club said in a ter pushing the referee, meaning he is yet lot of damage,” said Real Madrid coach ally placed to re-take the overall lead he (across) he could have won the race, statement. to feature in the league this season. Zinedine Zidane after his side’s win in the had conceded to the Briton at the last there’s no question about it.” “Dembele was accompanied by team physician, Dr. Ricard The Portuguese hitman struck twice in Basque Country. race at Italy’s Monza. The crash ended a run of 18 consec- Pruna. his only appearance since the incident, a “We’re back on track but we’ve got Instead, he dropped to 28 points be- utive points finishes for the four-times “Dembele will be operated on Tuesday by Dr. Sakari Orava. comfortable 3-0 win over Apoel Nicosia to keep going because there’s another hind Mercedes’ triple champion with six champion, whose last retirement came in Following the surgery, the club will provide a medical statement.” in the Champions League last Wednes- game on Wednesday.” of the 20 races still to go. Malaysia in October 2016, when Hamilton The 20-year-old joined from Borussia Dortmund for a day. Mid-table Betis have not beaten Ma- Vettel made a clean, if slow, getaway also failed to finish after leading. club-record initial fee of €105million in August. Youngster Borja Mayoral and Gareth drid in the league at the Bernabeu in 19 off the rain-drenched grid. The Briton cashed in on his rival’s fail- He has made only three appearances for the club this sea- Bale struck for a weakened Madrid on years and only five times in 51 attempts. He veered left to cover off Red Bull’s ure to take the maximum 25 points up for son. Sunday as they beat Real Sociedad 3-1, If they are to defeat them on Wednes- Max Verstappen who had started along- grabs with a third straight win and inflict (Source: Soccerway) but as well as Ronaldo, Marcelo and Toni day, they will need experienced winger side on the front row. significant damage to Vettel’s champion- Kroos are expected to return after sus- Joaquin, 36, and summer signing Andres The Dutchman took evasive action ship hopes. pension and injury respectively. Guardado, 30, to continue their excellent but made contact with Kimi Raikkonen’s If Hamilton keeps the momentum go- Slovenia tops Serbia for Despite the impressive display against form. fast-starting Ferrari, sending it spearing ing, the triple champion could soon work a previously unbeaten Real Sociedad, “They are like kids in a school yard, into the side of the other Ferrari. himself into a position where he wouldn’t first EuroBasket title Ronaldo’s return will be vital for Madrid they give it back to the guy that gives it Vettel continued with a damaged car need another win to clinch the title. as they look to take advantage of a soft back to them,” Betis coach Quique Setien but then spun into the wall after turn Vettel may well come to see Singapore fixture schedule over the next two months said of the midfielders. three in an impact that removed the front as the race that swung the balance. to push rivals Barcelona. “(Guardado) is a footballer I can’t de- wing and nose. “There is nothing we can do now and The Catalans, who face Eibar on scribe, extraordinary. He has enormous Ferrari blamed Verstappen on their for sure it is bitter,” said the 30-year-old. Tuesday, sit top of the table and are four quality and an enormous work rate. Just Twitter feed, but Red Bull boss Christian “But we have other races ahead of us points ahead of Madrid, in fourth place. like Joaquin, they are reference points for Horner rushed to his driver’s defense. and I am sure there will be more oppor- Barcelona were rocked by Ousmane the team.” “He unfortunately ended up retiring tunities for us.” Dembele’s injury during their 2-1 win at (Source: Four Four Two) as the result of somebody else’s accident,” (Source: Reuters)

Despite injuries to two of their starting players, Slovenia were able to hold off Serbia to cap off an unbeaten EuroBasket tour- nament. Slovenia captain Goran Dragic scored 35 points and won the tournament MVP award. Dragic was to sit out the three and a half minutes of the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket final in Istanbul›s Sinan Erdem Dome after ex- periencing cramps. “He was cramping on the sidelines,” Slovenia coach Igor Kokoskov told fiba.basketball, the official website for basketball›s governing body, after the game. “Goran›s body was quitting on him.” Kokoskov was already without Luka Doncic, Slovenia›s star teenager who had to leave the game injured midway through Unai Emery tells Neymar and Edinson Cavani to ‘Sort It Out’ after penalty issues third quarter. Slovenia prevailed nonetheless, going on a 12-0 Paris Saint-Germain manager Unai Em- the decision. While this issue will concern some, the season. run at the end of the game to beat Yugoslav neighbor Serbia ery has called on Neymar and Edinson “I have told them to sort it out be- PSG supporters will be delighted with the As noted by OptaJean, the spirit and 93-85. Cavani to “sort it out” after their set- tween themselves,” the coach said, per way in which Neymar, Cavani and Kylian fitness of the team makes them so dan- The win makes Slovenia the smallest country to win a Eu- piece disagreements against Lyon on Jonathan Johnson of ESPN FC. “I think Mbappe have linked up as a trio so far gerous late on in matches: roBasket tournament, since Latvia in 1935. They won all nine of Sunday. that they are capable of doing that and this season. Cavani and Neymar are both big per- their games in the tournament and were the ones who knocked Cavani and Neymar were seem- that they will both be our kickers. If they Though none of the trio were able to sonalities, and each will be keen to take out defending champions Spain in the semifinals. ingly at odds over who should take cannot reach an agreement, I will decide get on the scoresheet against a dogged responsibility from set-piece situations. “We were chasing a medal for 25 years and now we have a penalty in the Ligue 1 contest, for them. I do not want this to become a Lyon side, they were all involved in the Nevertheless, these types of decisions gold. It›s incredible,” said Klemen Prepelic, who scored 21 points with the former eventually taking the problem for us.” crucial goals. Cavani›s effort was deflect- should be made prior to the game to in the game. kick and seeing it saved by Anthony As noted by Johnson, Dani Alves also ed for the opener, whereas Mbappe›s prevent uncomfortable moments like the Dragic, who plays for the Miami Heat in America›s National Lopes. Earlier in the game, the pair seemed to get involved in the skirmishes, strike—after being played in by a Ney- one mentioned. Basketball Association (NBA), won the tournament›s Most Val- appeared to clash over who should hiding the ball from Cavani and handing mar pass—struck Morel before flashing Having seen Cavani›s most recent ef- uable Player award. He scored 35 points in the final, six shy of take a free-kick, too. it to Neymar at one point. into the net. fort stopped from 12 yards, world-record the all-time record of 41, set by Serbia›s Aleksandar Djordjevic Speaking about the incident after- Despite Cavani›s penalty miss, PSG It wasn›t PSG›s best performance of signing Neymar will surely take over set- in 1995. wards, Emery urged the forwards to set- won the game 2-0 after two late own the campaign so far, but their record in piece duties for the immediate future. (Source: Deutsche Welle) tle the matter themselves or he will make goals from Marcelo and Jeremy Morel. Ligue 1 remains perfect six games into (Source: Bleacher Report) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 SPORTS 15

I will fight for my place with Wushu fighters take five medals in Asian Junior Ashkan Dejagah: Saman Ghoddos Championships SPORTS Iranian-Swedish midfielder Saman deskGhoddos says that he will fight for his Iranian wushu practitioners have collected five medals at place in Team Melli starting line up with Ashkan Dejagah. the ninth edition of Asian Junior Wushu Championships in Ghoddos was invited to Iran national football team in South Korea. the match against South Korea in the 2018 World Cup On Sunday and the opening day of the continental sports qualifier but didn’t play. event in Gumi City, Mohammad Reza Ja’fari tested his martial “The Iranian football federation asked me to join Team art skills and maneuvers in the boys’ 9-12-year-old category Melli’s preparatory camp in late September but I have of Daoshu form, and scored 9.18 points to sit in the second to play in Europa League match with Ostersunds FK. slot and pick up the silver medal. I will join the Iranian national team in Russia in A Chinese competitor grabbed the gold medal with 9.22 October,” Ghoddos said in an interview with points. A wushu artist from the Philippines tallied 9.17 points SvenskaFans.com. to get the bronze. Ghoddos says he was treated well by everyone in Iran Zahra Botshekan also pocketed a bronze in the girls’ national football team. 9-12-year-old division of Daoshu form. “When I met them for the first time I saw so A Chinese wushu artist defeated a representative from many talented players in Team Melli. Everything was Malaysia in the last contest, and collected the gold medal. professionally managed there. The players treated me well, Furthermore, Niloufar Mokhtarpour garnered 9.19 points I immediately felt like part of a big family,” he added. to claim the silver medal in the Chiangshu form of Taolu com- “Ashkan Dejagah was one of the players who took petitions, and followed a representative from Singapore with good care of me, and everyone treated me well. Ashkan 9.20 points. is my main rival in Team Melli but I will fight for a place A contestant from South Korea notched up 9.19 points to with him. It’s normal in football. We are friends outside collect the bronze. the pitch but we are competing for a place at the field,” Ali Shokravi also settled for the bronze medal with 9.20 the 24-year-old stated. points in the boys’ 12-15-year-old category of Nangun form. “I want to be a member of main team in the 2018 A wushu contestant from China was awarded the gold medal, World Cup but I am well aware I will have a difficult job and the silver went to a competitor from Hong Kong. ahead of me. It’s a dream come true to play with the best Additionally, Nahid Pourshabanan got 9.53 points to grab teams in the world,” Ghoddos concluded. the silver in the girls’ 15-18-year-old section of Nanquan form. The young Iranian female athlete trailed a Chinese wushu fighter with 9.62 points. A competitor from Uzbekistan AFC Champions League Semi-final Flashback: Saudi Arabia vs Iran racked up 9.50 points to stand behind Pourshabanan. After an enthralling set of quarter-finals, the 2017 AFC The hosts dominated the proceedings from the get Nanquan usually requires less flexibility and has fewer Champions League is now left with just four teams to go but they found Zob Ahan tough to crack. acrobatics than Changquan, but it also requires greater leg fight it out for a spot in the continent’s showpiece match. The tension was palpable as chances came and went stability and power generation through leg and hip coordi- The West region semi-final will see Al Hilal of Saudi without the scoreline changing. nation. Arabia face Persepolis of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thiago Neves, Mohammed Al Shalhoub and The ninth edition of Asian Junior Wushu Championships Riyadh-based Al Hilal were also involved the last and Mirel Radoi all had their opportunities to make the kicked off on September 14, and will run through September only time Saudi and Iranian have sides met at this stage breakthrough but it just wasn’t their day. 21, 2017. since the tournament revamp in 2002-2003, when they Instead, it was Zob Ahan who scored to silence (Source: Press TV) locked horns with Zob Ahan in 2010. the crowd. An uncharacteristic mistake from Al Hilal In the build-up to next week’s tie, let’s turn back the defender Osama Hawsawi gifted the ball to Castro, clock and refresh our memories of what happened who controlled it before rifling home past Al Otaibi Malaysia to host 2019 back then. to make it 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate to Asian giants Al Hilal began their AFC Champions Reza Khalatbari goal in the 80th minute ensured Zob the visitors. World Para Swimming League campaign that year in Group D, going on to top Ahan would face Al Hilal in the semi-finals. To make matters worse for Al Hilal, their full-back Lee the group ahead of Mes Kerman, Al Sadd and Al Ahli. Both sides had chances to go ahead early on at the Young-pyo lost his cool and kicked out at Khalatbari, Championships A 3-0 win over Bunyodkor followed in the Round of Foolad Shahr Stadium, with Khalatbari and a 20-year old earning a straight red card from referee Ravshan Irmatov. World Para Swimming announced on Monday (18 Septem- 16, which set up a clash with Qatar’s Al Gharafa in the Nawaf Al Abed missing the target with their attempts. The final whistle confirmed a first ever continental ber) that Kuching, Malaysia will host the 2019 World Para quarter-finals. Al Hilal had keeper Hassan Al Otaibi to thank in the final for Zob Ahan while Al Hilal were left to rue their Swimming Championships from 29 July – 4 August. In a classic encounter that will live long in the fans’ 21st minute when he pulled off a stunning reflex save to wastefulness in front of goal. Around 600 swimmers from 70 countries are expected to memories, Al Hilal cruised to a 3-0 win at home, before deny Igor Castro. The final of the 2010 AFC Champions League compete in the capital of Sarawak state marking the 9th edi- being stunned 3-0 in Doha by Al Gharafa, who then With the first half edging towards a goalless end, Al pitted Zob Ahan against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in tion of the World Para Swimming Championships and the made it 4-0 in extra time. Hilal came up with a fine passing move that released Tokyo, with the Iranians coming up short as Seongnam first time the competition will be held in Asia. Fortunately for Al Hilal, a thrilling climax saw late Al Qahtani but the Saudi star was brought down in the registered a 3-1 win and lifted the title. Elected the new International Paralympic Committee (IPC) goals by Yasser Al Qahtani and Essa Al Mehyani take box, earning him a penalty. Since then, Zob Ahan’s best result in Asia is the President in the 2017 IPC General Assembly held last week them through to the semi-finals. However, it was Zob Ahan who celebrated after quarter-final place achieved in 2011. This year, they were in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Andrew Parsons said: “We are pleased As for Zob Ahan, their appearance in 2010 was only Christian Wilhelmsson’s effort was saved by Gordan unable to make it to the knockout stage, after finishing to announce that Malaysia is going to host the first edition the second in their history after making their debut in Shahabaldin. third in their group. of the World Para Swimming Championships in Asia. The 2004, where they were knocked out in the group stage. Zob Ahan then made their opponents pay after the Al Hilal, on the other hand, have enjoyed success, coming years are going to be an exciting time for Para sport The Isfahan-based side ended up topping a tough break, when Ghasem Haddadifar struck a low free-kick successfully negotiating the group stage in the last in the continent and Kuching will see the world’s best Para Group B, that featured Bunyodkor, Al Ittihad and Al that went through the wall and into the goal, giving the seven consecutive seasons. swimmers competing one year before the Paralympic Games Wahda - all of who had previously made semi-finals home side a 1-0 lead. They also finished as runners-up in 2014 and semi- in Tokyo. appearances. Al Abed struck the post with a fierce left-footed shot finalists in 2015. “We would like to thank the Paralympic Council of Ma- Zob Ahan then pipped fellow Iranian side Mes and Al Hilal had more chances to equalise but failed to Of the players who played against Zob Ahan in 2010, laysia and the Sarawak State Government for their support Kerman 1-0 in the Round of 16 before stunning the put them away. Osama Hawsawi, Abdullah Al Zori and Nawaf Al Abed and we look forward to working with them to organise an continent with a 3-2 aggregate win over defending A capacity crowd of around 68,000 expectant fans will be available for selection for the semi-final first leg amazing event in Kuching in two years’ time.” champions Pohang Steelers in the quarter-finals. filled the King Fahd International Stadium for the second against Persepolis on September 26 while Salman Al The president of the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (NPC The Korean side had been leading the tie on away leg in Riyadh, watching with bated breath as Al Hilal Faraj and Yasser Al Qahtani are out injured. Malaysia) Mr. SM Nasarudin Tan Sri Datuk Seri Utama SM goals going into the last 10 minutes but a Mohammad tried to reach a first Asian final since 2002. (Source: the-AFC) Nasimuddin, said: “We would like to thank the IPC for the decision to award this Championships to Malaysia. This deci- Iran fire warning to rivals in Wrestlers pocket three medals in sion demonstrates the willingness of the IPC to develop NPCs worldwide by giving an opportunity to cultivate the organisa- Ashgabat Grand Prix Medved tional capabilities to host major international events. “We have earned international reputation in hosting major sporting events in this country and the National Paralympic Council values this opportunity and shall endeavour to deliv- er the Championships to the best of our ability.” (Source: Paralympic.org)

Sacchi suggests Ancelotti should leave Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich could be better off if Carlo Ancelotti leaves the club, according to Arrigo Sacchi. Speculation has mounted over the future of the 58-year- old amid reports of disharmony in the dressing room at Al- Islamic Republic of Iran took no pris- (34th), Hossein Tayebibidgoli (35th) and Iranian freestyle wrestlers have featured team in the 74-kilogram division. lianz Arena. oners in their Group D opening match Hamid Ahmadidazaj 39th minute. praiseworthy performances at the Hamid Reza Zarrinpeykar bagged the Ancelotti has rubbished rumours of a possible move to against Tahiti winning 16-1 and serving “It was a great honour to play International Grand Prix Tournament bronze in the same weight section. the Chinese Super League in January but his long-term pros- notice of their intent of adding a fifth against such a great team. It was tough Medved 2017 in Belarus, and bagged The 47th edition of International pects remain uncertain, with Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann crown in the Ashgabat 2017 Asian In- to have them coming, coming and three medals at the international Grand Prix Tournament Medved started tipped as a possible replacement. door and Martial Arts Games men’s coming again at our team,” said Tahiti tournament. in Minsk, Belarus, on September 16 Former AC Milan boss Sacchi, who coached Ancelotti dur- futsal on Monday. goalkeeper Hiti Thierry Ariiotima. On Sunday, Ahmad Bazri overcame and finished the following day. ing the hugely successful final years of his playing career at The defending champions who have Tahiti finally got their consolation two representatives from the host The tournament was held in the San Siro, believes a change could benefit all parties. won all four editions since it was first through Jacob Tutavae in the 27th min- nation in his first two contests of the men’s 57-, 61-, 65-, 70-, 74-, 86-, 97- “It does look like changes would be good for Bayern,” he held in 2005, showed their attacking ute. Tahiti coach Heitapu Hunter was 86-kilogram weight class at the Palace and 125-kilogram weight categories. told Sport1. “You get older and lose passion and that total prowess, knocking in eight goals in optimistic of his team’s debut against of Sports of the Belarusian capital city Female freestyle wrestlers competed desire. That’s life. each half. Iran said: “It’s difficult for sure when you of Minsk. in the 48-, 53-, 55-, 58-, 60-, 63-, 69- “To me, it seems like the team has lost its enthusiasm. Hat-tricks from Farhad Tavakoli (4th, play champions like them, but we came He, however, conceded a defeat and 75-kilogram classes. “He [Ancelotti] is nonetheless a great coach. Which other 13th, 14th) and Ahmad Esmaeilpour here to learn a lot from them. from Russian opponent Zaur Yurevich Aleksandr Vasiliyevich Medved coach has won the Champions League three times? He has (8th, 10th, 18th) while Mahdi Javid “It’s the first time for Tahiti Futsal Makiev in the semi-final round. is a retired Soviet freestyle wrestler, had success all over the world.” (16th), Saeid Ahmad Abbasi (11th) team to play at these levels, because Bazri bested a Ukrainian freestyle who was named by the International Bayern claimed a 4-0 Bundesliga win over Mainz on Sat- added one apiece as Iran took a 8-0 every time we play a world cup qualifi- wrestler in his next bout, and advanced Federation of Associated Wrestling urday to ease some of the pressure on Ancelotti. lead into the break. cation we lose and get always stopped to the repechage round. Styles (FILA) as “one of the greatest They won the title in his first season in charge in 2016-17 Javid added three more in the second by Solomon Islands (which are world He defeated a contestant from wrestlers in history”. before claiming the DFL-Supercup last month, but lost in the half in the 27th, 30th and 37th to take No.46, while Tahiti are world No.83) and Russia and took away the bronze He won three Olympic gold medals, semi-finals of last term’s DFB-Pokal to Borussia Dortmund and his tally to four as Iran swept their oppo- so we have never the chance to play medal. seven world and three European titles exited the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid. nents with goals from Mohammad Sha- these bigger teams,” he added. Earlier, Mohammad Mottaqi had between 1962 and 1972. (Source: Soccernet) jari (31st, 33rd), Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh (Source: asghabat2017.com) picked up a silver medal for the Iranian (Source: Press TV) Prayer Times Noon:12:58 Evening: 19:26 Dawn: 5:24 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:51 (tomorrow) SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 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 “Alan” picks Golden Leaf at 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 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 Duhok festival www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. ARTTEHRAN — Iranian Iranian Tel: 88911433 deskdirector Mostafa director Webmaster: [email protected] Mostafa Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 Gandomkar’s “Alan” won the Golden Leaf for Best Kurdish Short Film at the Gandomkar No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran (L) kisses his P.o. Box: 14155-4843 5th Duhok International Film Festival, Zip Code: 1599814713 which was held in the Iraqi city from award for September 9 to 16. best Kurdish The film is about a Kurdish man in short film Syria who has lost his home and family during the in ISIS attacks. closing Iranian cinematographer Turaj ceremony of Aslani also won the special jury award the Duhok for Turkish director Hasim Aydemir’s International movie “14 July”. Film Festival Eight other Iranian movies, including on September NEWS IN BRIEF “Gaze” by Farnush Samadi, “Achieve” 16, 2017. An by Mohammadreza Minapur, “Dada unidentified Iranian films line up for intl. Saltaneh” by Hadi Ahmadi and “Darza” person is also by Iraj Mohammadi Razini were also seen in the event in Sept., Oct. screened at the festival. photo. ARTTEHRAN — A number of Iranian movies will deskbe competing in international events around French official Jean-Baptiste “Imagine Peace” honored at Tehran the world during October and the remainder of September. Narges Abyar’s anti-war drama “Breath” and “Chocolate” Lemoyne visits Tehran museum art festival by Soheil Movaffaq will be screened at the Canada Kids Film Festival, which is scheduled to be held from September 22 to 24. “The Rock”, a documentary by Hamid Jafari, will compete in the 15th Matsalu Nature Film Festival that will be held in Estonia from September 20 to 24. The film is about a woman in southern Iran who goes to the mountain of the village every day, breaks up rocks, puts the stones on a truck and makes a living out of it for her family. A poster for “Chocolate” by The animated movie Visual Arts Office director Majid Mollanoruzi (L), France’s Secretary of State Graphic designer Alireza Danafar (R) shakes hands with veteran artist Qobad Soheil Movaffaq, which will “Release from Heaven” by to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne (C) and Shiva after accepting the Shiva Peace Medal during the 5th Art for Peace Festival compete in the Matsalu Nature Ali Nuri Oskui has received a French Ambassador François Sénémaud pose at the TMCA in Tehran. (TMCA) at the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) in Tehran on September 17, 2017. (IAf) Film Festival in Estonia nomination at the Fimucité – Tenerife International Film Music Festival in Spain. Mohammadreza ARTTEHRAN — France’s the museum. ARTTEHRAN — “Imagine Twenty-five posters by artists from ten desk desk Aliqoli is the composer of the music for the film. Secretary of State to In a meeting with Visual Arts Peace”, a poster by countries including China, Russia, the U.S., The festival will announce winners on September 30. the Minister for Europe and Foreign Office director Majid Mollanoruzi at Iranian artist Alireza Danafar has been Greece, Mexico, Turkey, Poland, Indonesia, Affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne has the museum, Lemoyne praised the awarded the Shiva Peace Medal in the Ecuador and Dominican are on display in recently paid a visit to the Tehran dynamism of the Iranian art, which has poster section of the 5th Art for Peace the poster section of the festival. Museum of Contemporary Art (TMCA). been represented in the works being Festival. The Art for Peace Festival is showcasing a “SNL,” “Big Little Lies,” Ambassador François Sénémaud shown at the biennial. The medal was presented to Danafar variety of artworks by over 200 international “Handmaid’s Tale” rule at and several other French diplomats He also announced the readiness of by veteran graphic designer Qobad Shiva artists in categories of painting, photography, accompanied Lemoyne on the visit, the his country to arrange an exhibition by during a ceremony at the Iranian Artists sculpture, graphic design, installation and Trump-flavored Emmys TMCA announced in a press release on French artists at the museum. Forum (IAF) in Tehran on Sunday. video art to promote the culture of peace Monday. Mollanoruzi warmly received the “Imagine Peace” has also been selected and a world without violence. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — “The Handmaid’s Tale” and They also were able to glance at suggestion and express his hope that as the official poster of the next edition Organized by the IAF, the festival political comedy “Veep” won the top prizes at the Emmy the works on display during the 7th the exhibition would be organized in of the festival, secretary of the festival will run until September 21, which is the awards on Sunday, but satirical sketch show “Saturday Night Tehran National Sculpture Biennial at the near future. Fereidun Farbud said. International Day of Peace. Live” won the most Emmys overall on the back of a season of Donald Trump spoofs. The new U.S. president, who never won an Emmy despite his reality show past, was also the butt of multiple jokes at the “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing” wins at Toronto film festival ceremony honoring the best of television. TORONTO (Reuters) — Director Martin McDonagh’s forbidden love, were the runners-up. “If he (Trump) had won an Emmy, I bet he wouldn’t have run comic drama, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Past audience winners and runners-up in Toronto for president,” host Stephen Colbert told the A-list audience. Missouri,” won the award for audience favorite at the have gone on to win or become best-picture Oscar “It’s your fault! He never forgave you and he never will. But Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, giving nominees, solidifying the Toronto festival’s reputation unlike the presidency, the Emmys go to the winners of the the film a boost ahead of the upcoming awards as a launching pad for films that go on to receive popular vote,” Colbert quipped, referring to the 2016 election season. critical acclaim. result. Frances McDormand plays a grieving mother Past winners and runners-up include “Spotlight,” Alec Baldwin won the comedy supporting actor Emmy for frustrated with the police’s lack of progress in finding “12 Years A Slave,” “The King’s Speech” and “La La his withering impersonations of Trump for “Saturday Night her daughter’s killer. The film, which screened in Land.” Live ”on the Comcast Corp’s NBC. Venice earlier and is set for wide release later this year, Other winners at this year’s festival included After its most-watched season in 23 years, “Saturday Night won the Grolsch People’s Choice Award. Director Martin McDonagh poses during red carpet event “Faces Places” for the audience’s favorite Live” won nine Emmys, including best variety sketch series, for Craig Gillespie’s “I, Tonya,” about U.S. figure skater for the movie “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” documentary. Warwick Thornton’s “Sweet Country” actress Kate McKinnon and for Melissa McCarthy’s turn as former Tonya Harding, and Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me at the 74th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy September won the festival’s Platform prize, selected by a White House press secretary Sean Spicer. By Your Name,” a coming-of-age romance about 4, 2017. (Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi) panel of filmmakers. With HBO‘s medieval series “Game of Thrones” out of the running this year because of a later airdate, there were a slew of new faces among Sunday’s winners. “Mother!” crumbles with $7.5 million, “It” repeats No. 1 Many of them were for women, who scored with female- LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) — “It” The rest of the cast includes Jeremy of $14.8 million from 3,154 locations. River” ($2.6 million), which has now centric shows like “Big Little Lies,” “A Handmaid’s Tale” and “Veep,” continues to post terrifyingly huge Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, The audience breakdown was 55% out-grossed “Hell of High Water” in and rare wins for women directors, writers and producers. numbers, while “Mother!” opens with Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Male and 29% under the age of 35. North America; “Leap!” ($2.1 million); In the first major awards wins for streaming service Hulu, “The a thud. Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton, The film is an adaptation of Vince “Spider-Man: Homecoming” ($1.9 Handmaid’s Tale” star Elisabeth Moss was named best drama “It,” from Warner Bros. and New Jaeden Lieberher, and Jackson Robert Flynn’s 2010 novel, and stars Dylan million); and “Dunkirk” ($1.3 million). actress. The show also won awards for writing, directing and for Line, expects to finish its second Scott. O‘Brien as a CIA black ops recruit In limited release, Annapurna and supporting actress Ann Dowd for a total of 8. weekend with $60 million from Meanwhile “Mother!” is struggling. who is trained by a Cold War veteran Amazon’s “Brad’s Status” is tracking Other new faces included Donald Glover, the best comedy 4,103 locations. That would make its The Paramount release directed by (Michael Keaton). The film’s opening to earn $100,179 this weekend from actor and also director for his hip-hop themed show “Atlanta.” domestic gross so far $218.7 million Darren Aronofsky is expected to earn is comparable to 2014’s “John Wick,” four locations. Mike White wrote Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her sixth consecutive Emmy for -- a record for the highest earning $7.5 million from 2,368 locations. which opened to $14.4 million on its and directed the movie starring Ben playing a female egotistical presidential candidate on HBO’s September release ever. The old That’s an all-time low for wide way to launch a franchise with $43 Stiller as a man who is constantly “Veep,” one of the few repeat winners. record-holder was 1986’s “Crocodile releases starring Jennifer Lawrence. million in domestic earnings. comparing his life to those of his “We did have a whole storyline about impeachment but we Dundee” with $174.8 million. Broken One contributing factor to the “We feel that we’re off to a very college friends. Austin Abrams, Jenna abandoned that because we were worried that someone else down by day this weekend, “It” earned movie’s bottom line is that audiences solid start,” Shaun Barber, Lionsgate’s Fischer, Luke Wilson, and Michael might get to it first,” said Louis-Dreyfus, accepting her trophy. $19.4 million on Friday and $26.2 entirely rejected it and bestowed an F EVP and general sales manager of Sheen also star in the flick, which has Sterling K. Brown won best dramatic actor for his role as an million on Saturday. Sunday’s take is CinemaScore. That’s despite a critical domestic theatrical distribution, said, been generally well-reviewed (83% African-American who is adopted into a white family in heart- estimated to be about $14.5 million. split that landed the polarizing movie pointing to the A CinemaScore the on Rotten Tomatoes). The film is tugging NBC family drama “This Is Us.” 389 Imax screens are expected to a generally positive 68% on Rotten movie earned from the under 25 expected to expand to 100 locations In a crowded limited series category, HBO’s murder mystery account for just over $3 million of Tomatoes. audience, and a strong September next weekend. “Big Little Lies” came out on top, winning eight Emmys including the film’s take in North America this Women made up the bulk of the box office so far. As for plans to make Amazon Studios’ head of for best series, for Nicole Kidman’s abused wife character, for weekend. audience (56%), and slightly more the movie a franchise, he said “it’s marketing and distribution Bob Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgard, as well as for writing and Overseas, “It” is pulling in an than half of the audience (52%) was very early in the run” and “too soon Berney noted that “fathers are really directing. additional $60.3 million in 56 markets. over the age of 35. The launch was to call.” relating to the film” and Stiller’s Kidman said the show “was created out of frustration because That raises its international total to driven by a marketing campaign Open Road’s “Home Again” performance. women weren’t getting great roles. So now, more roles for $152.6 million and the worldwide that shrouded the R-rated movie should land in fourth this weekend After a catastrophic summer of women, please!” tally to $371.3 million. in mystery and didn’t give much with $5.3 million from 3,036 locations moviegoing, a strong September Britain’s Riz Ahmed beat presumed front-runner Robert De Based on Stephen King’s novel, away regarding plot. In addition to (only a 38% drop from last weekend). so far (39.4% better than last year, Niro to take his first Emmy for his role as a man who falls foul of “It” opened last weekend with an Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” from powered by “It”) is leading a gradual the U.S. judicial system in HBO’s crime limited series “The Night Of.” enormous domestic pull of $123.4 and Michelle Pfeiffer also star. Lionsgate, continues to stay in the recovery. The year to date box office Some of the night’s biggest losers included two new Netflix million. The R-rated title, reportedly Another fresh R-rated launch, top five with about $3.6 million from is now 4.9% behind last year -- up shows. Fan favorite “Stranger Things” won just five of its 18 made for about $35 million, stars Bill “American Assassin” -- a joint 3,272 spots. The rest of the top ten from 6.5% behind at the end of the nominations, mostly in technical categories, and British royal Skarsgard as an evil clown named production between CBS Films and is made up of “Annabelle: Creation” summer. The domestic box office so series “The Crown” came away with three out of 16 nominations. Pennywise who terrorizes children. Lionsgate -- is expecting an opening ($2.6 million); Taylor Sheridan’s “Wind far this year has earned $7.9 billion.