WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 39th year No.13167 Thursday JULY 26, 2018 Mordad 4, 1397 Dhi Al Qaeda 12, 1439 ‘Hollow threats’ by U.S. Trump’s threats West Brom eye ’s Concept designs from rulers not deserving suggest he is ignorant Milad Mohammadi: Iran shortlisted for response 2 of IRGC capabilities 2 Report 15 Architizer A+Awards 16

Tehran says U.S. must abandon idea of talks ‘under shadow of threats’ POLITICS TEHRAN — On make a “real deal” with Iran. Trump’s remarks Hemmati appointed deskWednesday, Iran’s came just two days after he threatened Iran Foreign Ministry said the U.S. govern- will military attacks that “the likes of which ment must abandon “forever” the idea of few throughout history have ever suffered.” “one-way negotiations” with Iran “under Speaking during the National Conven- the shadow of threats”. tion in Kansas City, Missouri, Trump said, The statement by the Iranian Foreign “And we’ll see what happens, but we’re Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi was ready to make a real deal, not the deal that a response to President Donald Trump who said was done by the previous administration new central banker on Tuesday that the United States is ready to which was a disaster.” 2 See page 4 IRGC fighter jets to carry 1,500-km range cruise missiles POLITICS TEHRAN — In a cer- bombers in the near future. deskemony on Wednesday, “After this overhaul, the bomber the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps un- fighters will be able to carry and use veiled 10 overhauled Sukhoi 22 fighter smart and pin-pointing cluster bombs, jets which will be equipped with cruise air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles missiles with a range of 1500 kilometers. and transmit data and information Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander from drones from a several-kilometer of the IRGC Aerospace Force, said the distance,” Hajizadeh stated in the cere- pin-pointing air-to-ground cruise mis- mony in which IRGC chief Mohammad sile systems will be mounted on these Ali Jafari was also present.

Ansarullah targets Saudi warship off Yemen’s western coast Fighters from Yemen’s Ansarullah (Houthi) So far, there has been no comment from movement have targeted a Saudi regime the Saudi regime-led coalition. There have warship off the country’s western coast in been no immediate reports of damage or retaliation for Riyadh’s deadly military casualties either. campaign on the impoverished nation. The House of Saud regime and

Ahmad Moeinijam Arabic-language al-Masirah television its allies launched the war in March network tweeted on Wednesday that Yem- 2015 in support of Yemen’s former Ri- en’s naval force had targeted the Saudi yadh-friendly government and against IRNA/ regime military’s Dammam battleship. the Ansarullah. 13 ARTICLE Erdogan: Iran is both our neighbor and our strategic partner Carnage in Syed Zafar Mehdi SOFIA — Severing ties with global strategic partners nuclear deal agreed by Iran and six world powers. Journalist goes against Turkey’s understanding of sovereignty, Erdogan will attend the summit to be held Syria from New Delhi Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on between Wednesday and Friday. His attendance Wednesday as he prepared to embark on a trip to at the summit will serve as the first high-level Series of deadly ISIL South Africa, Yeni Safak reported. contact between Turkey and the BRICS bloc. On attacks kill 150 in Syria Let’s talk about “Severing ties with our strategic global part- the sidelines of the summit, the Turkish president is ners, who are just like the U.S. to us, goes against expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders Terrorists from Islamic State of Iraq and terrorism our understanding of sovereignty. Iran is both our of all BRICS members and other invited leaders. the Levant (ISIL) said on Wednesday that neighbor and our strategic partner. There are so A meeting between Russian President Vladimir it was behind a series of deadly blasts in perpetuated by many developments based on mutual benefit,” Er- Putin and Erdogan is scheduled on Thursday on Syria which killed more than 150 people. dogan said to members of the press in Ankara before of Iranian oil by November, a senior State De- the sidelines of the summit, according to Russian The militant group said “soldiers of the America boarding the presidential plane to South Africa. partment official said. Trump in May said that his presidential aide Yury Ushakov. caliphate” carried out surprise attacks on Washington has told its allies to cut imports administration was withdrawing from the 2015 (Source: Focus News) government and security centers in the “There are two ways to approach largely government-held southern city of the study of terrorism,” notes Noam Sweida on Wednesday. Chomsky in ‘Western State Terrorism’. ‘India’s foreign policy should not be dictated by Western or Eastern superpowers’ They were among the worst attacks “One may adopt a literal approach Syed Zafar Mehdi mulling to cut oil imports from Iran under the U.S. and enthusiastic on Chabahar so far anyway. in recent months. or a propagandistic approach, con- Ajai Shukla is a senior Indian journalist and an- pressure, even though two other largest buyers of The relations between India and China, two Reports said three suicide attackers struing the concept of terrorism as a alyst on strategic affairs, defence and diplomacy. crude oil from Iran - China and Turkey - refused of the fastest growing economies and regional set off booby-trapped belts in Sweida city, weapon to be exploited in the service In this interview with Tehran Times, he spoke to pay heed to the U.S. diktat. Do you think India, giants, have never been on the solid ground. What as other blasts hit villages to the north of some system of power. It comes as about India’s domestic and foreign policy issues. being a major power in the world, should not let ails their relationship? and east. no surprise that the propagandistic Following are the excerpts: Western superpowers dictate its foreign policy? A. This requires a book, not a short answer! A fourth suicide explosion hit the city approach is adopted by governments Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi re- A. No. India’s foreign policy should not be But if you have to have one, it is: Strategic com- later. generally, and by their instruments cently spoke of targeting double-digit GDP growth dictated by Western superpowers... nor by East- petition in Asia and China’s apparent belief that The attacks included a suicide bomb- in totalitarian states.” rate for breaking into the $5 trillion economy. ern superpowers. Its foreign policy should be it must be the sole regional power. ing at a busy vegetable market, Sky News The ominous threat of ‘interna- But there are numerous hurdles to reach there, dictated by its own national interests. India has used its soft power quite effec- reported. tional terrorism’ does not come from especially the growing disparity between rich If India goes ahead and cuts oil imports tively to win hearts and minds in Afghanistan. The carnage sparked clashes later in some teeny-weeny, ruthless jihadist and poor. Can India claim to be an economic from Iran, will it have any bearing on the agree- But there is a general perception that both India the day between Syrian troops and allied cluster, but from the Western nuclear superpower when almost 73 million people live ments the two countries have signed especially and Pakistan use Afghanistan as the battleground militias and ISIL militants. powers that form the core of the NATO below the poverty line? on Chabahar Project? for proxy war. Why is Afghanistan important “IS fighters stormed villages in the alliance, and keep issuing vile threats A. No. Nor has any Indian leader, to the best of A. India is negotiating the necessary waivers for India? province’s northeast and killed residents against countries that don’t subscribe my knowledge, claimed that India is an “economic needed for continuing oil imports from Iran, A. As a traditional friend (just like Iran is!). in their homes,” said Rami Abdel Rah- to their warped worldview. superpower”. Targeting double-digit GDP growth is without the need to get involved in sanctions As a counter to Pakistan-supported jihadism in man, the head of Syrian Observatory for Just a few days ago, the madman regarded as essential for creating the broad-based eco- violations. It is up to Iran to decide how to take South-Central Asia. As a gateway to Central Asia Human Rights. in the White House, in an incoher- nomic growth that will lift more people out of poverty. forward the Chabahar Port project. In my under- (with the cooperation of Iran, if that is forth- Rahman said it was the bloodiest death ent bluster, threatened the Islamic There were reports recently that India is standing, Tehran has not been very forthcoming coming). 6 toll in Sweida province since the start of Republic of Iran, while responding the war in 2011 - and one of the deadliest to a tweet of Iranian President Has- ever in Syria. san Rouhani. “Never, ever threat- Some 62 civilians were killed - the re- en the U.S. again or you will suffer maining 94 dead were government forces, consequences the likes of which most of whom where residents who had few throughout history have ever picked up weapons to defend their villages, suffered before,” Trump tweeted to the observatory said. Rouhani, who had earlier politely ISIL has been largely defeated in Syria advised the former not to “play with and Iraq, but still has pockets of territory the lion’s tail”. Iranian foreign min- Iran, Azerbaijan in eastern and southern Syria. ister Javad Zari shot back, saying the Since its offensive started in June, Iranians have heard such “bluster” ink MoU to government’s forces have retaken ter- for 40 years, and still been around ritories controlled by the rebels along for millennia and seen fall of em- build border the Golan Heights frontier and are now pires. Trump knew he had used the fighting militants in the country’s wrong card, because terrorism and wall along southern tip. war crimes are associated with the U.S., not Iran. Perhaps Trump and his cohorts Astarachay need lessons in history, to be re- TEHRAN TIMES A memorandum of understanding was Iran’s Leading International Daily minded of the horrific crimes his signed on Tuesday between Iran’s Astara country has committed across the and Azerbaijan’s Lankaran border forces world throughout history. The his- Mahdi Hossein Nejadi to build a 600-meter long concrete wall tory of U.S. imperialism is replete along Astarachay River. Advertising Dept with stories of unilateral belligerent Colonel Nozar Moradi, commander of military strikes, gory massacres and the Iranian Astara border guard unit, socio-cultural aggression. At the re- said the wall is aimed to prevent seasonal ceiving end have mostly been those 021 -430 51 450

Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ floods which annually damage some villages who refused to pledge allegiance to along this border line. the American hegemony. 6 [email protected] I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS JULY 26, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Nobakht Trump’s threats suggest he is ignorant resignation not true: of IRGC’s capabilities: IRGC chief government We can easily counter threats of cutting Iran’s oil exports POLITICS TEHRAN — Presidential chief of staff deskMahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday that POLITICS TEHRAN — Respond- Trump on Monday responded to Rou- a report that Budget and Planning Organization chief Mo- desking to U.S. President hani’s comments in a tweet, saying, “Never, hammad Baqer Nobakht has resigned is not true, saying Donald Trump’s anti-Iran rhetoric, chief ever threaten the United States again or media has misquoted Nobakht. of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps you will suffer consequences the likes of “The head of Budget and Planning Organization has (IRGC) said on Wednesday that if Trump which few throughout history have ever said that at whatever post the president orders, he’s ready hears about the IRGC’s capabilities, he suffered before.” to serve the government and nation,” Vaezi told reporters, will never dare say the same things again. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad IRNA reported. Speaking at a ceremony held in Tehran Zarif then tweeted that he was “unim- The response by Vaezi came after Nobakht said he had to deliver 10 Sukhoi Su-22 fighter jets pressed” by Trump’s threatening language. resigned from all his responsibilities in order to give President overhauled and upgraded by domestic “We’ve been around for millennia & Rouhani free hand to reshuffle his cabinet. experts at the IRGC Aerospace Force, seen fall of empires, including our own, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari which lasted more than the life of some shrugged off the U.S. administration’s countries,” Zarif noted. Lab equipped threat to cut Iran’s oil exports to zero by Under its current the administration, with quantum November, saying such threats can be the United States has taken an increasingly easily countered. hostile approach toward Iran. technology General Jafari also hailed President On May 8, Trump unilaterally with- Hassan Rouhani’s response to U.S. threats drew the U.S. from the 2015 multilateral operational in Iran against the Islamic Republic as “revolu- nuclear deal with Iran despite objections POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Akbar Salehi, director of tionary”, Fars reported. by Europe as well as Russia and China — deskthe Atomic Energy Organization of Iran On Sunday, President Rouhani warned play with the lion’s tail, this would only fully understand that peace with Iran is the other parties to the deal. (AEOI), announced on Wednesday that the first lab equipped President Trump about his hostile stance lead to regret.” the mother of all the peace, and war with He also announced that his administra- with quantum technology research facilities is working in Iran. against Iran, saying, “Mr. Trump, do not Rouhani also said, “The Americans must Iran would be the mother of all wars.” tion will re-impose sanctions against Iran. Speaking at a ceremony to unveil a new achievement in the field of quantum technology, Salehi said the lab is the first of its kind in West Asia and the Islamic world. ‘Hollow threats’ by U.S. rulers not ‘Pompeo’s speech shows Trump administration He said quantum technology is used in different areas deserving response: Rouhani has no knowledge of history: Limbert including communications, computing, biology, sensors and simulation. POLITICS TEHRAN — President By staff and agency Salehi also expressed the hope that Iranian experts be able deskHassan Rouhani on John Limbert, a former deputy to make rapid progresses in the field of quantum technology. Wednesday dismissed the recent hostile assistant secretary of state for Iran, comments by American officials against has said that U.S. Secretary of State Iran as “baseless and unfounded,” stressing Mike Pompeo showed that President Heavy water that their “hollow threats” do not even Donald Trump’s administration has deserve a response. no knowledge of history. production Rouhani said national unity is the an- “Pompeo’s speech has demonstrated continuing tidote to all threats against Iran by the that this administration has no knowl- Trump’s White House. edge of or interest in history,” Limbert “The Iranian nation’s resistance, unity, said in an article published by LobeLog integrity and indifference to their threats on Tuesday. POLITICS TEHRAN — The spokesman for the and plots, plus attempting to thwart the During an address at the Ronald deskAtomic Energy Organization of Iran said enemies’ threats provide the most powerful Reagan Presidential Library on Sunday, on Wednesday that the production of heavy water has not response to the worthless remarks of the Pompeo made harsh remarks against been stopped, insisting that the production is continuing American officials,” Rouhani said. misconduct and their lack of commitment Iran and accused the country of spread- nihilate millions of them,” the former with the same pace as before. After Rouhani warned the U.S. to stop to their obligations. ing violence across the Middle East. diplomat lamented. Behrooz Kamalvandi said while the previous U.S. ad- hostile moves against Iran and warned The president further said domestic efforts “As I used to tell my students, ‘Those Limbert, a former hostage in Iran, says ministration bought 30 tons of heavy water from Iran, the that war against Iran will be the “mother aimed to increase production and exports as of you who forget history are condemned Trump and his team wants to roll back current Trump administration has been making serious of all wars”, Trump made a tweet threat- well as closer public cooperation with the gov- to repeat…sophomore year.’ This group what Barack Obama did in regard to Iran. efforts to prevent the sale of heavy water by Iran. ening military attack against Iran. In his ernment would be a “decisive response” to plots. seems constantly ready to repeat at least “The president and his administra- Nevertheless, Kamalvandi said, Iran has its own con- all-caps Twitter, Trump said, “NEVER, He also said Tehran has taken legal sophomore year.” tion remain obsessed with undoing the nections with the world and is able to sell its heavy water. EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES efforts in the international arena to confront He also said that the Trump ad- acts of its predecessor. In the case of AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSE- the United States’ misdeeds, pointing to ministration has no coherent message Iran, the administration has rejected Assyrian MP QUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW a complaint Iran recently filed with the on Iran. anything that even hints at reaching THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER International Court of Justice over Wash- “On the one hand, Pompeo says that goals through diplomacy.” praises decision SUFFERED BEFORE.” ington’s decision to re-impose sanctions people in Iran should have the same Limber said, “Pompeo, from his Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Rou- against Iran after U.S. President Donald freedoms that Iranian-Americans enjoy. speech, clearly cares less about re- on religious hani said the Iranian nation has from the Trump withdrew his country from the 2015 On the other hand, President Trump, sults than about looking ‘tough’ for minorities start stood up to the American leaders’ multilateral nuclear deal. in his midnight tweet, threatens to an- its own sake.” POLITICS TEHRAN — The representative of Iranian deskAssyrians in the Majlis on Wednesday wrote ICJ orders U.S. not to take new sanctions measures against Iran a letter to Expediency Council chief Ayatollah Mahmoud POLITICS TEHRAN — Mohsen Mohebi, head the agreement, the U.S. was obliged to have fair behavior tions. Iran is committed to the rule of law in the face of U.S. Hashemi Shahroudi thanking the body for a recent vote deskof the Presidential International Legal towards the Iranian citizens and not to impede banking contempt for diplomacy & legal obligations. It’s imperative that allowed religious minorities to contest council seats. Center, said on Tuesday that the International Court of interaction,” Mohebi stated. to counter its habit of violating int’l law,” Zarif tweeted. In his letter, Yonathan Betkolia said the decision heartened Justice (ICJ) has demanded the U.S. not to take any new Head of the Presidential International Legal Center added U.S. President Donald Trump announced Washington’s religious minorities who have always considered themselves sanctions measures against Iran until the tribunal issues its that Iran had urged the ICJ to immediately ban re-impo- exit from the 2015 nuclear deal on May 8 and said sanctions first-degree citizens of Iran. verdicts on a lawsuit filed by the Islamic Republic against sition of sanctions. will be restored against Iran. According to a new legislation passed by the Expediency the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions. The first hearing session in the case will be held on August According to the U.S. Treasury, the first batch of sanctions Council on July 21, religious minorities can now run in city Mohebi said ICJ President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf sent 27, the ICJ letter said. will be snapped back on August 6 and the second batch on council elections. a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday On July 16, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif November 4. The move overrode the Guardian Council’s rule that a urging him not to take any new sanctions move. said Iran had filed a complaint at the ICJ against the U.S. Iran and the U.S. signed the Treaty of Amity in 1955 non-Muslim cannot be a member of a body which makes “Iran’s lawsuit is over the U.S. move in re-imposing unilat- for reintroducing sanctions. which is still valid according to international law. The treaty decisions about Muslims. eral sanctions which is against its international commitments “Today Iran filed a complaint @CIJ_ICJ to hold U.S. consists of an introduction and twenty-three articles and under the 1955 agreement [the Treaty of Amity]. Based on accountable for its unlawful re-imposition of unilateral sanc- emphasizes encouraging mutual trade and investments. Trump follows Netanyahu’s Jewish supremacy over others means ‘apartheid’, Iran says agenda: Jack POLITICS TEHRAN — Es’haq Al-e- regime, confident with the unequivocal support law”. It declares that only Jews have the right and blackmailed by the Israeli rhetoric and Straw deskHabib, the Iranian deputy of the U.S. and emboldened by the Council’s of self-determination. It also downgrades Ar- victim-playing. ambassador to the UN, said on Tuesday that inaction, has intensified its brutalities and abic of its designation as an official language. The adoption of this racist law has to be POLITICS TEHRAN — U.S. President Donald the “Jewish nation-state” bill adopted by the illegal activities. In practice, this means Jewish supremacy condemned in the strongest possible terms. deskTrump’s agenda is the same as that of Israeli Knesset means Jewish supremacy over So far, it has killed over 140 peaceful Pales- over others; this means that others who have Israel should be compelled to revoke it as it Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former British others which means “racism” and “apartheid”. tinian protestors and injured around 17,000 been treated as second-class citizens for far too runs counter to the UN Charter, international foreign secretary Jack Straw has said. “In practice, this means Jewish supremacy others. This includes killing and injuring of long, are now, legally, second-class citizens as law and the basic principles of international Speaking to the Islamic Republic News Agency on Tuesday, over others; this means that others who have over 1,300 women and girls as well as more well; it also means racism; this means apartheid; human rights law. Straw said, “If you want to know what President Trump’s been treated as second-class citizens for far than 3,100 children. this means the legalization of such racism and The recognition of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, by agenda is, you should look at Prime Minister Netanyahu.” too long, are now, legally, second-class citi- However, even this vast systematic atrocity apartheid; and ultimately, it means legitimizing a certain State, as the Israeli capital gravely “What they are interested in is a comprehensive deal zens as well; it also means racism; this means did not satisfy the Israeli Education Minister, exclusion, segregation and systemic inequality. contravenes international law and relevant which includes medium range missile systems and support apartheid; this means the legalization of such who insisted, “The Israeli warplanes should This is against the 1963 Declaration on the resolutions of this Council and the UNGA. for Hezbollah and President Assad in Syria and in Iraq,” the racism and apartheid; and ultimately, it means drop bombs over the heads of Gaza children”. Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimina- The international community should fulfill former chief diplomat said in reference to Trump’s call for legitimizing exclusion, segregation and systemic In his radically extremist view, there is no legal tion, according to which, “Any doctrine of racial its responsibility in rejecting it as its aim is to renegotiation of the 2015 nuclear deal. inequality,” Al-e-Habib said during a speech impediment to shoot directly at those children. differentiation or superiority is scientifically legalize the occupation, and to deprive all of the “President Trump is trying to maneuver Iran into a sit- at the UN Security Council meeting. Israel also continued striking civilian in- false, morally condemnable, socially unjust inalienable rights of the Palestinians, includ- uation where either it has to negotiate or it refuses to take Following is the full text of his speech pub- frastructures of the Gaza Strip and placed new and dangerous”. ing their inherent right to self-determination part,” he said, adding, “In either case, he will be arguing he lished by IRNA: restrictions on the only cargo crossing thereto. This should remind us of resolution 3379 and return to their homeland and to establish has been on the right side.” I thank you for convening this open debate This will drastically deteriorate the already grave of 1975 through which the UNGA determined their own independent Palestinian State with and also align myself with the NAM statement humanitarian situation due to the illegal and “Zionism is a form of racism and racial dis- Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. to be delivered by Venezuela. inhumane blockade imposed there by Israel crimination”. In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like Yemeni religious The occupation of Palestine has been the main for more than a decade. Unfortunately, in 1991, when Israel had to refer to the allegations made by the Israeli scholars voice root cause of the conflicts in the Middle East. Likewise, this regime also continued the made its participation in the Madrid Conference and Saudi delegations against my country. With that in mind, Israel must be compelled establishment of illegal settlements. The latest conditional to the revocation of resolution 3379, Rejecting them all, I do not want to dignify solidarity with to end the occupation; to stop its expansionist official data reveals that in West Bank, 99.7% of the UNGA decided to revoke that resolution. any of them with a response. strategies; and to put an end to all its aggressive public land grants by Israel go to settlers only. Now, after nearly 30 years of the revoca- The aim of such allegations is to distract Iran policies and criminal practices. Another example is the Israeli plan to demol- tion of that resolution, it is crystal clear that global attentions from the atrocities they con- POLITICS TEHRAN — A number of Yemeni reli- This is the only way to ensure a viable per- ish Khan Al-Ahmar village, to expel its original by doing so, the UNGA has only emboldened tinue to commit in Palestine and Yemen. This deskgious scholars have voiced support for and manent solution to the Middle East conflict Palestinian inhabitants and replace them with Israel to legalize racism. The enactment of this is in their common interests. Nevertheless, no solidarity with the Iranian nation and government against thereby restoring the inalienable rights of illegal Israeli settlement units and settlers. law once again proves that racism is in the very amount of smear campaigning can cover up mounting pressure from the United States. Palestinians. However, one of the worst developments is nature of the Israeli regime. Therefore, the their atrocities. They must be held accountable In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Yemeni reli- Since the last quarterly meeting, the Israeli the enactment by Israel of its so-called “basic UNGA should not permit itself to be deceived for all their crimes. gious scholars voiced support for “the brave stances of Iran against American schemes and arrogance,” Fars reported. They also condemned the United States’ support for Takfiri Tehran says U.S. must abandon idea of talks ‘under shadow of threats’ terrorist groups which have committed great crimes against 1 The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said it is and wisdom, and said the Iranians have always responded “America must know that the modern world and era is not an humanity in Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. necessary that the U.S. government “not to be after repeating to threats with threats and to respect with respect. age of hegemony, bullying, … and unidirectional thinking anymore.” The clerics also condemned a Saudi-Emirati coalition that their failed experiences”. He further noted that the Iranian nation will never hesitate “The United States must keep its limits and recognize has launched a military campaign against Yemeni civilians. Qassemi described the people of Iran as a brave and to defend themselves against excessive demands, foreign its position at this point of time. It must also make greater civilized nation who enjoy rich history, culture, intelligence domination and pressures. efforts to understand the place and role of Iran.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JULY 26, 2018 INTERNATIONAL

Pakistan holds parliamentary Laos: Bodies found amid flooding, hundreds remain and provincial elections missing Pakistanis voted in key parliamentary and provincial elections that were marred by violence. Millions of Pakistanis flocked to polling stations starting at 8am local time to elect the next government. At least 29 people were killed in a suicide attack on Wednesday in western city of Quetta near a polling station. Up to 800,000 police and military forces had been deployed across 85,000 polling stations in elections that saw the second ci- vilian-to-civilian handover of power in the The bodies of 17 people have been recovered after flash floods country’s history. caused by a dam breach in southern Laos, according to an official ‘High turnout expected’ at the scene. • Shiraz Khan Paracha, director of Abdul Roof-level flood waters have submerged several villages Wali Khan University Mardan, said the “hor- near the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam, Thai consular official Chana rific” suicide attack in Quetta, which killed at Miencharoen told AFP news agency on Wednesday. least 29 people, has not deterred people from “There are 17 bodies recovered so far, but we cannot estimate voting. the number of missing yet,” Miencharoen said. • “What we are observing is that despite the Hundreds missing very serious incident, people are still coming Meantime, hundreds of people are reported missing following to the polling stations, there are long queues the collapse of the under-construction hydropower dam, which all across Pakistan and the expectation is that released some five billion cubic meters of water, at 8pm local this time the turnout could be even higher time (13:00 GMT) on Monday. than the previous elections,” he told Al Ja- The disaster left more than 6,600 people homeless, the Lao zeera in an interview from Islamabad, the News Agency reported on Tuesday. It showed pictures of villagers country’s capital. wading through muddy floodwater carrying their belongings. Voices from the streets of Lahore: Others boarded rickety wooden boats or stood on the roofs of • Al Jazeera’s Asad Hashim spoke to voters partially submerged houses. in the eastern city of Lahore, Punjab: Landlocked Laos is one of Asia’s poorest countries but aims • “As long as there is corruption, how can to become the region’s “battery” by selling power to neighbors there be development?” asked Waqas Jam- the PPP candidate for the Punjab provincial • “There was already a high threat alert,” opposing political parties left one person dead through a series of hydropower dams. shed, 30, who owns a fast food restaurant assembly seat from the same area. said Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from and wounded two people in a village near Environmental rights groups have for years raised concerns and is a PTI supporter. • “I changed my vote for the provincial as- the capital, Islamabad. “Importantly, what the northwestern city of Swabi, police said. about the country’s hydropower ambitions, including worries • “With the PML-N, we see them doing sembly because I wanted to see change of some we are told at this point is that the suicide • Police officer Khalid Hamdani told As- over the impact of dams on the Mekong River, its flora and fauna some work,” said Shahid Bashir, 50, who kind. We may as well give them a chance. bomber was a motorcyclist.” sociated Press news agency it is unclear what and the rural communities and local economies that depend on it. has been driving a rickshaw in Lahore for • “Now our army, our intelligence agencies • The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant triggered the shootout between a group of The $1.2bn project planned to export 90 percent of its elec- the last 18 years. He has always supported and the judiciary are taking sides in poli- (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group claimed supporters of the secular Awami National tricity to energy-hungry Thailand and the remaining amount the PML-N. tics, they have become touts for the PTI,” the responsibility for the attack via its Amaq Party (ANP), which has often been targeted was to be offered up on the local grid. • “Look, everyone steals a bit, but at least PML-N voter alleged, echoing widespread website. by the Taliban, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e- The 410-megawatt capacity dam was supposed to start com- with the PML-N we can see the work being allegations that the country’s powerful military Imran Khan votes in Islamabad Insaf (PTI) led by former cricket Imran mercial operations by 2019, according to the venture’s website. done,” Bashir added. has applied pressure on politicians ahead • PTI chairman Imran Khan has cast his Khan, a centre-right party. (Source: agencies) • “Now our army, our intelligence agencies of the polls. ballot in the capital, Islamabad. ’High-stakes election’ and the judiciary are taking sides in politics, Blast in Quetta • Talking to the media after voting, the • “We’ve already seen people turning up they have become touts for PTI,” another • At least 29 people, including two po- former cricketer urged the entire nation to early here in Islamabad, so that they can get PML-N voter, Tariq Ateeq Sheikh, 50, al- licemen, have been killed and more than 40 come out and exercise their right to vote. over with voting,” said Al Jazeera’s Kamal China arrests 15 people leged, echoing widespread allegations that wounded after a bomb explosion near a polling • “Today I urge all of Pakistan to get out Hyder, reporting from the capital, Islamabad. the country’s powerful military has applied station hit a police van in the southwestern and vote; just vote for any party,” he told • “It is indeed a tough-fought election. after vaccine maker admits pressure on politicians ahead of the polls. city of Quetta. reporters. “This is the most important election There is still a lot at stake. All three main- • Younis Naseeb, 42, a tailor in Lahore’s • Waseem Baig, spokesperson for the in this country’s history. It’s an opportunity stream political parties are saying that they wrongdoing NA-131 constituency, split his vote, backing Quetta civil hospital, confirmed the death to defeat the status quo.” are gong to get a high number of votes and the PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique against toll to Al Jazeera from the blast in the eastern Shooting in Swabi seats, but the people of Pakistan will make The chairwoman of a rabies vaccine producer under fire for fraud- Khan for the National Assembly, but voting for bypass area of Quetta. • A shooting between supporters of two that ultimate decision.” ulent quality control is among 15 people arrested by Chinese authorities on “suspicion of criminal offences” over a vaccine scandal. The development came late on Tuesday, days after pharma- Two Mexican journalists killed in separate attacks ceutical manufacturer Changchun Changsheng Biotechnology Two Mexican media workers were murdered in separate Pat Cauich’s killing came as news emerged on Tuesday admitted to falsifying test results and producing fake vaccines. attacks, bringing the total number of journalists killed in that Luis Perez Garcia, an 80-year-old journalist and pre- Police in the northeastern city of Changchun announced the Mexico so far in 2018 to at least eight. senter, had been killed last week. arrests, but did not give the chairwoman’s full name. She has Ruben Pat Cauich was shot dead on Tuesday in a south- According to the Federation of Associations of Mexican previously been identified as Gao Junfang. eastern resort town on Mexico’s coast amid increasing vi- Journalists (Fapermex), firefighters discovered Perez Gar- The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) said last olence in the area. cia’s body around 12:30am (05:30GMT) after putting out a week the problematic rabies vaccine had not left Changsheng’s Pat Cauich was the chief of Playa News Aqui y Ahora, a blaze at his home in the Iztapalapa district. factory, but the company admitted it had shipped a separate Facebook-based online news site run from Playa del Carmen National media reported he was beaten and asphyxiated sub-standard vaccine. in the coastal state of Quintana Roo. before his home was set alight. While there have been no apparent reports of people being According to officials, he was shot at around 6am Fapermex denounced the killing and called for govern- harmed by the vaccine or having contracted rabies after receiv- (11:00GMT) outside a bar. Emergency services pronounced mental protection for Perez Garcia’s family. ing it, the regulator has already ordered Changsheng to halt him dead upon arriving at the scene. At least eight journalists have now been killed in Mexico production and recall all its vaccines. “Municipal police have made contact with staff from the so far in 2018. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico’s Authorities have announced a series of investigations, vowing attorney general’s office in order to carry out relevant in- president-elect, pledged to “care for and protect” journalists that heads would roll. vestigations,” Solidaridad municipality said in a statement. at a freedom of the press event in May. In a sign of the high-level unease, President Xi Jinping - on a trip Pat Cauich was the second Playa News journalist killed Under the presidency of his predecessor, Enrique Pena to Africa - weighed in on Monday, calling the vaccine company’s in less than a month after his colleague, Jose Guadalupe Nieto, which began in 2012, at least 42 journalists were actions “vile in nature and shocking”, according to state media. Chan Dzib, was shot dead on June 29. Playa News Aqui y Ahora said in a Facebook post that murdered and there were about 2,000 attacks on report- The affair has shattered already fragile trust in regulators and According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Tuesday was “a black day for journalism”, adding “killing ers, according to Article 19, a freedom of expression NGO spotlighted the frustrations of China’s increasingly sophisticated Journalists (CPJ), Pat Cauich had been beaten, detained journalists will not silence the truth”. (non-governmental organizations). consumers, who took to social media en masse to vent their overnight, and threatened by police in June. It called on the state government to investigate the killing. Mexico is considered one of the most dangerous countries anger over the case. He often reported on police activity and, prior to the “Now it is two from our team, Governor, when will the lack in the world to be a journalist. Eleven reporters were killed By Monday, shares in Chinese vaccine makers and biotech detention, had written an article accusing local officers of of public safety in our state end?” in 2017, according to Reporters Without Borders (RWB/ firms had fallen across the board. colluding with a criminal gang. Killings on the rise Reporters Sans Frontières/RSF). (Source: agencies) Jan-Albert Hootson, CPJ’s representative for Mexico, said The first six months of 2018 saw a 132 percent rise in More than 100 media workers have been killed in the Pat Cauich had been enrolled in a government protection homicide rates in Quintana Roo, home to a number of popular country since 2000. Most of the crimes remain unsolved. program at the time of his death. tourist resorts, including Cancun and Tulum. (Source: agencies) Jimmy Carter: The U.S. no Swedish activist stops flight from deporting longer a leader in human rights Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says America has lost its position as the so-called global leader for human rights under Afghan man to ‘hell’ President Donald Trump. A Swedish activist has prevented the depor- “If ever you think one person can’t make “We should be the champion of human rights. We’re a super- tation of an Afghan asylum seeker after she a difference, then watch this!” said Caroline power, not based solely on military power; part of that definition refused to sit down on a plane that was due Lucas, an MP (Member of Parliament) with should be a commitment to human rights,” Carter said on Tuesday to deport him from the country. Britain’s Green Party. at an event at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Facing sympathy and hostility from pas- Meanwhile, Joey Ayoub wrote that Ers- “We have lost the long-term commitment to human rights,” sengers, Elin Ersson began live-streaming son could be fined and jailed for delaying he said. “We should be a superpower because we espouse things her 15-minute protest as she boarded the the Afghan man’s deportation, and posted a that are important to everyone on earth and I think human rights plane and demanded the pilot exercise his story published by the German broadcaster are one of them,” he added. right to refuse to take off while the 52-year- Deutsche Welle (DW). Carter, 93, served as the 39th U.S. president from 1977 to 1981. old deportee was on-board. According to DW, passengers who refuse The former Democratic president has been particularly critical “I am doing what I can to save a person’s to obey a pilot’s orders while on board face of the nation’s direction under Trump’s leadership. life,” said Ersson as she struggled to keep fines or up to six months in jail. Tuesday’s event, part of an annual forum discussing human her composure. The incident has highlighted Sweden’s rights, brought together more than 60 “activists, peacemakers “As long as a person is standing, the pilot strict policy on asylum seekers after the ex- and community leaders,” according to a news release. cannot take off. I’m not going to sit down traordinary events of 2015 when 163,000 Carter specifically addressed immigration law, and said im- until the person is off the plane.” people applied for asylum in the Scandinavian migrants should have a “clear picture” of what happens after In recent years, thousands of Afghan country. A 2017 study by Gothenburg Uni- crossing into the United States. asylum seekers have been told they will be versity found that 52 percent favored taking “We need a comprehensive bill that has bipartisan support. returned to the active warzone despite outcry in fewer refugees into the country with 24 Immigrants need to have a clear picture of what will happen that the country is not safe. “I want him to get off the plane because The video went viral on social media with percent opposed. to them when they come here. Clarification of US law is most Shouts of “sit down, we want to go” could be he is not safe in Afghanistan. I am trying to many praising Ersson for her courage. Support for the anti-immigration Sweden important,” he said. heard in the recording and a person believed change my country’s rules, I don’t like them. “This is what a human rights defender Democrats has surged in advance of Septem- The comments from Carter come as Trump and his admin- to be a flight attendant made an attempt to It is not right to send people to hell.” looks like,” said Amnesty International’s ber’s election to the point where it could be istration continue to face widespread criticism for separating snatch Ersson’s phone. After a tense standoff, passengers broke Stefan Simanowitz. hard for the government or opposition to form thousands of undocumented families illegally crossing the “What is more important, a life, or your into applause when the asylum seeker and This is what a human rights defender a working majority without their support. U.S.-Mexico border. time?” she told the person. Ersson were taken off the plane by ground staff. looks like. (Source: Al Jazeera) (Source: Press TV) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY JULY 26, 2018

STOCK MARKET India’s activities TEDPIX 108800.1 IFX 1332.55 in Iran’s Chabahar Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir not affected by U.S. CURRENCIES USD 43,800 rials EUR 51,189 rials sanctions: official GBP 57,358 rials ECONOMY TEHRAN — Chairman of “No sanctions against transportation deskExport Promotion Council from Iran to Central Asia are expected to AED 11,927 rials for India’s EOUs and SEZs (EPCES) said the be issued, so the Chabahar project will not Source: mehrnews.com U.S. sanctions on Iran won’t affect India’s be affected by these threats, he added. trade activities in Iran’s Chabahar port, IRNA Mentioning the future of India’s activities reported on Tuesday. in Chabahar port in southeastern Iran, Sharma it clear that his country’s bilateral relations oil imports and investment in Chabahar port According to Vinay Sharma, the U.S. noted that every nation is seeking to protect with Tehran stand on their own and are not in the wake of the U.S. sanctions against the sanctions include trade and business as its own interests and India does so despite influenced by its ties with any third country. country. COMMODITIES well as goods and services sectors while U.S. sanctions. The assertion was made as a reply to a The U.S. has threatened sanctions against WTI $68.51/b Chabahar port is a communications point Earlier this month, Indian Minister of question on whether India will continue its countries that fail to cut off trade ties with Brent $74.30/b for transport. State for External Affairs VK Singh also made economic relations with Iran in terms of both Iran and stop oil imports. OPEC Basket $71.57/b Hemmati appointed new Gold $71.85/b 1000km of gas pipelines Silver $1,233.20 /oz to join national network by Mar. 2019 central banker ENERGY TEHRAN— Some ECONOMY TEHRAN — The Platinium $15.62/oz desk1000 kilometers of deskIranian cabinet on Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com new gas transferring pipelines will be Wednesday gave a vote of confidence connected to the national network of the to Abdolnaser Hemmati to replace NEWS IN BRIEF country by the end of current Iranian Valiollah Seif as the governor of the calendar year (March 20, 2019), according Central Bank of Iran (CBI), Tasnim ICCS to allocate to the managing director of Iranian Gas news agency reported. Engineering and Development Company. Hemmati, 61, who has a bumpy way foreign currency Hassan Montazer Torbati also to tackle the steep depreciation of the at official rate for announced that 1000 kilometers of gas rial and root out a series of irregularities transferring pipelines were connected to Putting 1000 kiloliters of new pipelines in the banking system, was a head of According to Rouhani’s order, the imports the national network during the previous into operation in the past year indicates the Central Insurance of Iran, as well new CBI governor has reforming the calendar year, IRIB reported on Wednesday. a noticeable progress in this field, as the as Sina Bank and Bank Melli. He had banking system, amending financial ECONOMY TEHRAN— According the latest decision of Iranian Gas Engineering and figure was 250 kilometers in the preceding been also appointed as Iran’s ambas- and monetary policies, improving deskofficials from Iranian ministries of industry, Development Company has noticeably years, Torbati highlighted. sador to China. international banking relations and agriculture, and health besides the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) expedited implementation of gas supplying “The job for 1000 kilometers was President Hassan Rouhani described expanding bilateral monetary agree- and Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), projects, the official noted and said a difficult, but we managed to do it and Hemmati as an educated and knowl- ments, as well as preserving the coun- the Integrated Comprehensive Customs System (ICCS) would number of new pressure boosting stations also we completed all other projects on edgeable person with invaluable experi- try’s foreign-exchange reserves on his be utilized as the reference for pricing goods to be imported and will be put into operation in the current year. the due times”, he added. ences in banking and insurance affairs. top priorities. allocation of foreign currency at official rate to import them. As IRIB reported on Wednesday, simultaneous with the implementation of this decision, IRICA will activate Tariff China keeps buying Iranian oil, and the trade war adds a reason to defy U.S. sanctions Specification Code (TSC) on the way to encounter unruly pricing China, the world’s top crude-oil buyer, Chinese have been averse to U.S. sanctions against everybody, including China.” Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters, of imported goods in Iran and to provide Iranian customers imported around 718,000 barrels a day — bilateral and unilateral — in the past, Growing economic ties between “China is always opposed to unilateral with updated prices according to the latest world prices. on average from Iran between January usually choosing their own business interests China and Iran sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction.” and May of this year, according to official over cooperation. But recent history shows that Beijing Last Wednesday, White House National Chinese customs data — equivalent to more The evolving trade war has taken a toll intends to intensify its trade relationship Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow Japan seeks U.S. sanctions than a quarter of Iran’s oil exports. China’s on China’s stock market this year. Among with Tehran, not lessen it. said that while talks to strike a deal with increased its imports of Iranian oil by 9.3 the 32 exchange-traded funds that track Shortly after the Trump administration Chinese officials have been positive, President waiver for Iran oil imports percent during the same time period from broad China equities indexes and specific announced that it would reinstate sanctions, Xi refuses to compromise over Beijing’s the year prior and is not expected to slow sectors of the emerging economy, only three Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with trade policies. top priority down purchases anytime soon. The United have generated positive performance this foreign leaders for support. His first visit was “I don’t think President Xi at the moment States expects that China will buy even more year, including an energy ETF, a health-care to Beijing. Following the visit, the Chinese has any intention of following through on Japan is seeking an early exemption from the U.S. on its sanc- oil once the U.S. sanctions take place in ETF and an ETF that tracks Chinese stocks state-run news agency Xinhua announced the discussion we made, and I think the tions against Iran as among the highest priority for the country›s early November, as reported recently by listed in the United States. the launch of a new rail connection between president is so dissatisfied with China on energy security as well as local refiners’ need for Iranian oil, a top The Wall Street Journal. “Under any circumstances, it’s a bit of Bayannur, in China’s Inner Mongolian these so-called talks that he is keeping the government official told S&P Global Platts Tuesday. How China historically has an uphill fight to get China to abide by U.S. Autonomous Region, and Iran. The new pressure on — and I support that,” Kudlow Asked if Tokyo seeks to secure the exemption by November responded to U.S. sanctions sanctions, but not impossible. In this current train line will expedite travel times by 20 said in an interview at CNBC’s Delivering 4, “it would be the sooner the better to get it,” he said. In refusing to comply with U.S. sanctions, situation, it’s hard to see the U.S. getting days in comparison to cargo shipments, Alpha conference in New York. the world’s second-largest economy will China to cooperate,” Dollar said. “If I were as a part of Beijing’s $124 billion Belt and China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, dull the sanctions’ fiscal impact, but China’s the Chinese, I would bring in these trade Road initiative, according to the Xinhua’s Hua Chunying, hit back during a scheduled current position on Iranian oil sanctions issues,” Dollar added. “It’s not in China’s announcement. The broader initiative aims briefing in Beijing last Thursday, saying, is consistent with its historical approach. narrow economic interest to stop buying to build new infrastructure between China “The relevant United States official “The Chinese position in general has oil from Iran.” and Europe, financing billions of dollars’ unexpectedly distorted the facts and made been that they will honor U.N. sanctions Speaking to the House Financial Services worth of Chinese-led projects in Iran to bogus accusations [that are] shocking and and they are reluctant to recede to bilateral Committee on July 12, U.S. Treasury build railways, highways, ports and power beyond imagination.” She added, “The United sanctions,” said senior fellow David Dollar Secretary Steven Mnuchin claimed that plants, greatly expanding trade. States’ flip-flopping and promise-breaking of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Trump administration has the “intent Last week, when asked if China would is recognized globally.” the Brookings Institution. Dollar said the to enforce sanctions on Iran-related oil cooperate with U.S. sanctions, Foreign (Source: CNBC) The world’s major emerging economies could end up benefiting from global trade tensions “We have a request from the U.S. to suspend oil imports from The bloc of emerging economies known as BRICS have long the U.S. as no longer interested in free trade, vacating its Iran but we see Iran as an extremely important country for ensur- struggled to establish a unified voice on the international traditional role on the global stage. ing Japan›s energy security,” said Minami, who took the helm of stage, but U.S. President Donald Trump may be providing BRICS countries may try to step into that gap, negotiating METI’s natural resources and fuel department on July 13 after them with an unlikely boost. wide-ranging trade agreements with many countries, Biswas having previously been director for the ministry›s oil and gas As the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South continued. division over December 2012-July 2015. Africa gather in Johannesburg on Wednesday for their annual The volatile global trade backdrop could also benefit Minami said stopping all Iranian oil exports could result in meeting, the issue of trade protectionism is set to dominate emerging markets in more tangible ways. the loss of around 2.5 million b/d of global oil supply, which talks amid Trump’s proposed tariffs on the European Union “China might turn to India, Brazil, Russia ... to source cannot be absorbed and would trigger a “substantial rise” in oil and Beijing. If the five-member group plays its cards right, products it originally bought from the U.S., such as soy prices that would not benefit anyone. it can use the matter to push forward the nations’ own trade beans, wheat, and meat,” said Alex Capri, visiting senior “As [Japan] considers to continue importing the crude oil, agendas. fellow at the National University of Singapore. “This creates we intend to tell the U.S. this stance, and we aim to secure their BRICS members have an interest in developing a world new opportunities for BRICS, at least temporarily.” understanding,” he said. with multiple countries filling leadership roles, so they will American firms may also seek to move some activities was “forced” to fight back against Trump’s measures with While noting Japan’s reduction in Iranian oil imports in re- be looking to “take advantage” of tensions to “to build up the to emerging markets that are within existing trading blocs reciprocal tariffs. cent years, Minami added that Japan should be exempt from profile of BRICS,” said Duncan Innes-Ker, regional director so as to avoid rising tariffs, he noted. “Given the failure of the G-20 finance ministers meeting the U.S. sanction. for Asia at The Economist Intelligence Unit. While many are hopeful for the three-day BRICS summit held earlier this week to defuse the threat to world trade Early decision BRICS has sought to reject the Western dominance to advance trade liberalization, divergent policies between from rising protectionism, the BRICS summit is likely to Japan imported an average of 165,481 b/d of Iranian oil in of international institutions, but a lack of unity prevents members could stand in the way. become a key global forum for galvanizing global support fiscal 2017-18 (April-March), down 28 percent from the previous members from coming up with an alternative solution. Now, “The challenge for BRICS has always been what exactly for multilateral trade liberalization,” said Rajiv Biswas, fiscal year. Iranian imports accounted for 5.2 percent of Japan›s with Trump’s duties on imported steel and aluminum set to holds them together beyond a cute acronym,” warned Deborah Asia-Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit. total crude imports of 3.19 million b/d in the fiscal year ended hurt each BRICS member — Beijing, New Delhi and Moscow Elms, executive director of the Asian Trade Centre, noting The Trump administration has said it is not advocating March 31, according to METI data. have already responded with retaliatory duties — the bloc their different domestic structures. “China is outward looking protectionism, but rather seeking to even a playing field Minami’s comments came after Petroleum Association of Ja- has fresh purpose to rally together. and manufacturing focused. Brazil is increasingly outward that has been corrupted by unfair trade practices. Those pan President Takashi Tsukioka said Thursday Japanese refiners That’s a positive for Beijing, which is now trying to focused, but mostly for agriculture, not manufacturing. India penalized by Trump’s tariffs, however, have tried to paint have urged the government to seek a U.S waiver on Iran sanctions tout itself as a champion of free trade and has claimed it is really not open.” (Source: CNBC) with hopes of continuing oil imports at current volumes instead of reducing inflows. “Certainly we have requests from Japanese companies to ne- Why Russia is growing gold reserves to record levels gotiate with the U.S. [over Iranian oil imports],” Minami said. Fresh Russian Central Bank data shows that of gold in Russia’s total reserves grew from However, in an era of global economic insta- a currency strategist at TeleTrade, a Russian “For that sense, this issue has elements of [energy security] policy Moscow bought some 106 tons of gold since just 2.5 percent to over 17 percent. bility stemming from geopolitical crises and broker, outlined the risks associated with and the impact on Japanese businesses.” the start of 2018, with total reserves now Last week, the U.S. Treasury confirmed fears of a global trade war, precious metals U.S. securities. Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Tsukioka called approaching the 2,000 metric ton mark. that Russia had undertaken a large-scale are seen as an instrument providing security “If for one reason or another a group of for the Japanese government to make an “earliest possible deci- News of the buy-up comes after confirma- dumping of its T-bills, bonds and notes, and diversification of risk. states were to present their Treasury holdings sion” over its response to the U.S sanctions on Iran as refiners tion by the U.S. Treasury Department that with holdings falling from $92 billion in With total global unsecured debt hit- to the U.S. for payment, they would simply are making their preparations for lifting of Iranian oil based on Russia dropped out of the top holders of December 2017 to just $14.9 billion now, ting some $247 trillion (or 318 percent of become worthless. This is a pyramid, because various scenarios. U.S. bonds. Sputnik explores the move and thereby pushing Russia out of the top 33 global GDP) in June, gold is seen by many the U.S., by all appearances, will never repay Asked if Japanese refiners face difficulty continuing to im- its possible reasons. major holders of U.S. securities. economists as a reliable store of value which, its debt. This scheme will continue to work port Iranian oil if the government makes no decision in August, According to Russian Central Bank fig- Russia’s total international reserves, in- while also subject to fluctuations, cannot be so long as it is believed in,” Egorov said. Tsukioka confirmed that the refiners would “temporarily” face ures, Russia’s total gold reserves amounted to cluding gold, now amount to $460 billion, drastically depreciated, or suffer an artificial And although gold has lower liquidity it, adding that it would be “inevitable to have some impact” on 1,944 tons as of June 2018, with the regulator with the Central Bank aiming for $500 billion. collapse. The same cannot be said of treas- than bonds, in the event of a crisis, such as a their procurements. pointing to a steady rise in holdings of the U.S. securities and the dollar, the latter uries (American or otherwise), which can collapse of the existing global trade order, the Even in the event of seeing refiners› “temporary response”over precious metal over the last decade (total serving as the de-facto global currency, are collapse in value if a large debt holder were precious metal would preserve the function the lifting of Iranian oil, the refiners intend to request the gov- gold reserves amounted to less than 500 currently considered to be among the most to suddenly dump its holdings. of a means of payment in whatever chaos ernment to continue imports, Tsukioka said. (Source: Platts) tons in 2008). In the same period, the share dependable high liquidity assets in the world. Speaking to Sputnik, Alexander Egorov, may ensue. (Source: Sputnik) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JULY 26, 2018 ENERGY 5

Oil rises for second day as U.S. Chinese factories with onsite power plants to pay fees, help crude inventories fall fund broader energy price cuts Oil prices edged higher for a second day on reported a more massive draw than analysts China will force factories with onsite power plants to pay fees Wednesday after data showed U.S. crude in- had expected,” said Stephen Innes, trader at to help fund $12 billion in cuts to commercial and industrial ventories fell more than expected last week, brokerage OANDA. electricity prices, the government said on Tuesday. easing worries about oversupply that have Sentiment was also supported by an Interna- The move, which partly formalizes a draft plan released in dragged on markets in recent sessions. tional Monetary Fund report about skyrocketing March, comes after Premier Li Keqiang vowed to lower electricity Global benchmark Brent crude was up 50 inflation in Venezuela, limiting its ability to prices by 10 percent by year-end as part of a push to make China’s cents, or 0.7 percent, at $73.94 a barrel by 0805 boost oil output, Innes said. energy markets more efficient. GMT, after gaining 0.5 percent on Tuesday. “Venezuelan oil production has already U.S. light crude was 5 cents higher at $68.57, plummeted to a new 30-year low of 1.5 million having risen nearly 1 percent in the previous barrels a day in June,” he said. session. Oil prices have come under pressure this U.S. crude and fuel stockpiles fell more month as a trade dispute between the Unit- than expected last week, industry group the ed States and China, as well as other major American Petroleum Institute (API) reported economic blocs, has raised the possibility of late on Tuesday. slower economic growth and weaker global “The overnight API figures set a positive energy demand as higher tariffs stifle imports. tone for oil prices with draws across the main But the global economy is still growing inventory categories from crude to a sizeable strongly and it is not clear how the trade dis- decline in gasoline, which is seasonally the focal pute may impact business. point as the driving season ramps up,” Harry Reports that China will increase infra- Beijing wants to curb the use of onsite coal-fired electricity Tchilinguirian, oil strategist for French bank barrels, the API said, compared with analyst stocks fell by 4.9 million barrels, compared structure spending have also helped reduce plants, also known as ‘captive’ power plants, which companies BNP Paribas, told the Reuters Global Oil Forum. expectations for a decrease of 2.3 million barrels. with analyst expectations in a Reuters poll for concerns that U.S.-China trade tensions will such as steel, aluminum and cement makers sometimes use to U.S. crude inventories fell by 3.2 million Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, a 713,000-barrel drop. dent Chinese demand for oil. avoid drawing more expensive energy from the grid. It also wants barrels in the week to July 20 to 407.6 million delivery hub fell by 808,000 barrels. Gasoline “Prices are moving higher after the API (Source: Reuters) to crimp their usage as part of its ‘war on pollution’. “Local authorities and grid companies must urge captive power plants to pay financial subsidies and use them to lower Russian oil getting ready for biggest tax overhaul in 20 years electricity prices for general industrial and commercial users,” Russia, one of the world’s top three crude producers, is preparing duties on crude and oil products, after an earlier effort in 1996. tax reform is just part of a fiscal jigsaw puzzle that also involves the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) the most radical shakeup of its oil-tax system since 1999. The Just three years after that move, the government was forced raising value-added tax and increasing the pension age. said in a statement on Wednesday. changes, which will allow the nation’s producers to export crude to reinstate the levies as it scrabbled for funds after the 1998 More urgently, the recent rebound in international oil prices The NDRC in March issued a draft plan to regulate onsite and oil products duty-free while raising their costs at the wellhead, financial crisis. drove up domestic gasoline prices in May and June, sparking power plants by banning construction of new facilities in smog- is set to get the go-ahead from President Vladimir Putin by year- 2. Will Russia export more oil once it’s duty-free? protests across Russia just weeks before the soccer World Cup. prone regions and cracking down on illegal plants. It also said end, bringing in much-needed funds for a multibillion-dollar In the past decade, Russia has sold roughly half its oil output After an ad-hoc agreement with key Russian oil producers to in the draft that it would force onsite power plants to pay fees to plan to revitalize the faltering economy. abroad, with 2017 exports of crude and condensate totaling 257 keep fuel prices flat, the government sped up work to create a subsidies other users. 1. What tax changes are on the cards? million tons (5.16 million barrels a day), Energy Ministry data more stable regulatory framework. The size of fees paid by onsite power plants will be decided by Starting next year, Russia will gradually lower export duties show. That share is unlikely to change as a result of tax reform 5. Who wins and who loses? provincial governments, according to the draft plan. on crude and oil products until they’re fully abolished in 2024. even if profits fall for refineries that don’t get relief, according “The winner is the Russian budget and the losers are consumers, “Low-cost electricity is like a drug to energy-consuming in- At the same time, it will raise oil-extraction taxes by the same to the ministry’s deputy head, Pavel Sorokin. He estimated that primarily those in the Eurasian Economic Union, who will dustries, giving them less incentive to improve energy efficiency,” amount, keeping the fiscal burden for producer-exporters steady. such refineries together process about 15 million to 17 million pay more for Russian crude and oil products,” said Alexander said Cheng Gong, an energy analyst at Zheshang Securities. For refineries, the tax shift may be more painful as it raises tons a year, and most won’t close, so just a fraction of additional Burgansky, a London-based oil analyst at Renaissance Capital. The NDRC statement on Wednesday also promised to further the price of every barrel they process. To stem losses and crude will be freed up for export. Russia’s trading partners in the EEU, mainly Belarus and expand cross-region electricity trading and to cut some fees on prevent domestic fuel-price growth, the government will offer If international oil prices grow more than 15 percent in a Kazakhstan, currently receive Russian crude tax-free, and pay major national hydro projects to give industrial and commercial tax breaks to several types of refineries, including Siberian month, making it more attractive for large Russian producers back the export duty only on fuels they subsequently produce users access to cheaper power. plants that are far from large ports, as well as facilities investing to sell abroad, the draft law allows for a reinstatement of export and resell outside the union. Russia’s Finance Ministry estimates The NDRC had cut electricity prices by about 7 percent by at least 60 billion rubles ($950 million) in upgrades between duties for both crude and oil products, with product duties set that these duty-free supplies cost Russia about 140 billion rubles mid-May, a spokeswoman for the commission said at that time. 2016 and 2024. at 60 percent of the oil export tax. a year. Once the new tax system comes into force, the customers The chairman of the State Grid Corporation of China , the The government will also offer relief to refineries where 3. Why change the tax system now? will pay a price for the oil that takes into account the higher country’s largest grid operator, said in March that broad cuts high-octane gasoline accounts for at least 10 percent of total Oil -- which along with natural gas is the key source of Russia’s production tax. in power prices would save companies around 80 billion yuan output, and to the refining subsidiaries of oil producers subject to budget revenue -- will add about 1 trillion rubles to state coffers For Russian oil majors, the effects of the tax changes are ($11.77 billion) in total this year. international sanctions. That means basically all major Russian over the next six years thanks to the tax reform, according to the largely neutral, according to Burgansky, who sees “no material In the first half of 2018, China’s industrial consumption rose oil companies will receive tax breaks for their refineries. Finance Ministry. That’s an appealing prospect for a government effect” on earnings from the reform. 7.5 percent from a year earlier to 2.2 trillion kilowatt hours. The tax overhaul is Russia’s second attempt to remove export embarking on an 8 trillion-ruble plan to revive the economy. Oil- (Source: Bloomberg) (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL JULY 26, 2018 NEWS IN BRIEF Democracy Millions vote in violence-marred, ‘seriously in peril in India’, says a bitterly-contested election in Pakistan new study INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Millions of the military establishment in favor of PTI, deskpeople flocked polling sta- although both military and PTI have rub- INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — In a serious indictment of tions on Wednesday to cast their votes in the bished such accusations. deskthe Narendra Modi-led BJP government violence-marred, bitterly-contested general The Independent Human Rights Com- in New Delhi, a new study has said that the democracy in election, which will see a democratic transi- mission of Pakistan in a statement last week India, like some other countries, was seriously in peril while tion of power, only the second time in the said there were “ample grounds to doubt” autocracy was on rise. country’s chequered political history. the legitimacy of the elections and criticized The study notes that the level of democracy in India has Despite the tight security arrangements “blatant, aggressive and unabashed attempts declined significantly over the last decade, especially since BJP claimed by authorities, a suicide attacker killed to manipulate the outcome of the elections”. took power in 2014, showing a disquieting trend, particularly at least 31 people on the outskirts of Quetta, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N, which faces tough in freedom of speech and alternative sources of information, the capital of Balochistan province. The toll competition from Khan’s PTI, has been dispirited civil society, the rule of law, and some electoral aspects. is likely to go up. ISIS, which has recently after the former premier’s arrest in an anti-graft According to the V-Dem Liberal Democracy Index, pub- gained foothold in Afghanistan-Pakistan case. However, experts believe it can work in lished at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, the recent region immediately claimed responsibility his favor if sympathy wave turns towards him, developments in India, especially in terms of human rights, for the attack. considering claims of PML-N leaders that’s were particularly worrying. The attack was condemned by all top po- their chief was implicated on flimsy charges. The government’s pursuit to revitalise India’s slumping litical leaders including Pakistan Tehreek According to sources, PTI has got slight edge economy has come at the expense of a reduction in the overall Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan over PML-N as the voting patterns suggest. But quality of India’s democracy, according to the indicators in Muslim League (PML-N) senior leader Shah- it will be extremely difficult for any party to get the index. India and the US — the world’s most populous baz Sharif. Khan said he was “saddened by a simple majority, which means the country democracies – became backsliders on democracy for the the loss of innocent lives”, adding that the has to brace up for hung parliament. first time in the V-Dem data. They joined other democracies enemies of Pakistan were “seeking to disrupt “The post-election scenario looks scary as such as Brazil, Hungary, Poland, and Suriname registered the democratic process”. the election is being contested bitterly and as backsliders already last year. Sharif, who replaced his brother and former More than 150 people were killed last week electoral officials were at polling booths to closely by all parties and accepting defeat India exemplifies a trend in which the rights and insti- prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as the party’s during an election rally in Balochistan, after ensure free and fair elections. graciously will be difficult for any of them,” tutions being diminished are the ones that make electoral candidate said he was “heartbroken” by the which security had been beefed up. More than This election has also been plagued by said Talat Abbas, an Islamabad-based analyst. processes meaningful and fully democratic. “This is a wor- incident and offered his condolences to the 7.5 security personnel had been deployed accusations of pre-poll rigging and manipula- “That’s where the role of military establish- risome set of developments, posing a clear challenge to the bereaved families. on the election day and nearly 1.6 million tion leveled by some political parties against ment comes into play.” future of democracy,” said the study. The infringements on media freedom and the civil society activities have started to undermine the longest-standing ‘India’s foreign policy should not be dic- and most populous democracy in the global south, according to the study. But the main indicators of the core electoral aspects of democracy do not show significant decline, it added. tated by Western or Eastern superpowers’ 1 Under the Modi-led BJP government in India, Kashmir. Why did India reject it? Adultery, alcohol the incidents of hate crimes against religious minorities A. For the same reason that Iran rejects international reports have increased. Don’t you think it has damaged the image that paint it as a supporter of jihadism and terrorist groups linked to U.S. Green of India as a secular republic? across West Asia. No country likes foreign human rights or- Beret shooting in A. Without question. The rise of hardline Hindutva is ganisations pointing fingers at its internal security operations. damaging India’s international image. More worryingly, ISIS seems to have gained firm foothold in Afghani- Afghanistan it is damaging India’s security and coherence from within. stan and Pakistan region in recent years. Do you think the Recently the UN published its first report on human group poses threat to India as well? INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — An internal investigation desk rights situation in Kashmir and recommended an inde- A. ISIS poses a threat to every country, including Iran into a U.S. Beret who fired a shotgun at pendent inquiry into human rights abuses in both parts of and India. But it is not a primary order threat. a civilian truck driver in Afghanistan in early 2007 has re- vealed details that are likely to draw anger and outrage in Afghanistan. Green Berets, The United States Army Special Forces, are a special operations force tasked with five primary missions. Let’s talk about terrorism perpetuated by America According to the investigation, some soldiers in the U.S. 1 This blatant chauvinism and sinister ‘The Globalisation of Poverty’. And, consider Special Forces detachment in Afghanistan were shooting desire to inflict suffering on others is best the fact that in the name of fighting their videos to promote their own clothing company, drinking explained by these words of American writer enemies, the U.S. government had directly alcohol on deployment and having extramarital affairs, which Andre Vltchek. “West has always behaved as been supporting Al Qaeda and other terrorist led to the incident in 2007. if it had an inherited, but undefined, right groups for the decade before 9/11 happened. The incident came to light through a short video clip to profit from the misery of the rest of the A majority of high-ranking security ex- of a deployment montage posted online last year, leading world. In many cases, the conquered nations perts agree that waging war in the Middle to the investigation. The shooting happened near Bagram had to give up their own culture, their reli- East has weakened U.S. national security Airfield in Afghanistan, which is home to U.S. forces in Af- gions, even their languages, and convert to and increased the threat of terrorism. A top ghanistan’s capital. our set of beliefs and values that we defined military interrogator remarked that torture The team’s captain told investigators that the driver had as ‘civilized’.” by American military of innocent Iraqis is failed to heed other warnings and firing the round was the Let’s briefly recap some of the crimes one of the main reasons that foreign fighters only way to get the driver’s attention. But the team’s opera- the U.S. war machinery has been directly started fighting against Americans in Iraq tions sergeant called the shot “horribly poor judgement,” or indirectly complicit in. Guatemala Civil and other countries. And, it is a well-known according to Stripes report. War that continued from 1960 to 1996 was fact that there was no presence of Al-Qaeda bitterly fought between the government of or ISIS in Iraq and Syria until U.S. invaded Guatemala and various rebel groups, most- Iraq and later Afghanistan. Al-Qadr militant ly the ethnic Mayans. The government of Marjorie Cohn, a widely-known professor Guatemala committed worst human rights of international law, in an article written in outfit new threat abuses and engineered genocide of Mayan November 2001 maintained that the bombings population of Guatemala, resulting in the of Afghanistan by the United States and the for India in killing and enforced disappearance of about United Kingdom were illegal. Afghanistan Kashmir 200,000 people – mostly civilians, with the of Terrorism’. was marked by brutally crushing dissent did not attack the United States. Indeed, the tacit support of CIA. Washington’s support for the Contra ter- with the assistance of secret police and the 19 men charged with the crime were not Af- INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — According to latest intelli- Direct or indirect support for death squads rorists in Nicaragua between 1981 and 1990 Haitian army. ghans. There were reports indicating that deskgence reports cited in Indian media outlets, has been an integral part of CIA operations. is one of the most shameful open secrets. The 1983 invasion of Grenada was the the United States had made the decision to Pakistan’s intelligence agency is allegedly making efforts to CIA’s death squad operations in Vietnam By acknowledging the link between the U.S. first major American military assault since invade Afghanistan two months before the strengthen Al-Badr, a little-known terror organisation, to War, which dominated 30 long years of government and the contras, the terrorist Vietnam War. The news was blocked as the 9/11 attacks. carry out attacks in Indian controlled Kashmir Vietnam’s history from 1940s to 1970s, led activities that the contras engaged in and U.S. government didn’t want the world to Twelve years down the line, the foreign A report prepared by India’s Home Ministry hints at an to killing of over 35,000 people. More than the recognition by the International Court witness the great superpower bashing up a military troops are still stationed in Af- extensive plot, where Al-Badr will carry out simultaneous 20,000 Vietnamese were killed during the of Justice, it is clearly evident that the U.S. small island nation and murdering its ci- ghanistan, hundreds of billion dollars have attacks in both India and Afghanistan, which, according CIA-guided Operation Phoenix intended to engaged in state-sponsored terrorism in its vilians. Why did the United States invade been spent, and at least 31,000 people in to the report, may help Pakistan to deflect any attention. weed out communist ‘agents’ from South Vi- response to the Nicaraguan revolution. Noam Grenada? “Many believe that Grenada was Afghanistan (civilians, insurgents, Afghan According to Zee Media, a popular media group in India, etnam. The U.S. role in the violent overthrow Chomsky writes in ‘Western State Terror- seen as a bad example for other poor Carib- military forces, and others) have been killed Al-Badr has ‘recruited’ around 15 local men in Kashmir in last of the democratically-elected Popular Unity ism’: “The guiding principle, it appears, is bean states,” opines Stephen Zunes, author in America’s longest war. three months. Three of these 15 belong to restive districts of government of Salvador in 1980s resulted in that the U.S. is a lawless terrorist state and of Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Now, America’s involvement in Yemen Pulwama and Shopian. Last month, during a rally in Pakistan 70,000 deaths and mass human rights viola- this is right and just, whatever the world may Roots of Terrorism. “Its foreign policy was and Syria has again raised many eyebrows. In controlled Kashmir, Al-Badr’s chief Bakt Zamin had said tions. To crush the rebels, the U.S. equipped think, whatever international institutions not subservient to the American government Yemen, Washington has extended full support that the group will become ‘voice of Kashmir.’ and trained an army which kidnapped and may declare.” and it was not open to having its economy to Riyadh’s war crimes and in Syria, America Other groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e- disappeared more than 30,000 people, and On March 8, 1985, in an assassination bid dominated by U.S. corporate interests.” has been supporting foreign mercenaries, Mohammad are also helping out Al-Badr, the report adds. presided over large-scale massacres of thou- on Sheikh Mohammed Fazlullah by CIA, a In Greece, America supported a coup resulting in incalculable death and destruction. sands of old people, women and children. powerful car bomb exploded outside a Bei- against an elected leader George Papandreou, Talking of Iran, more than a decade after In a review of book ‘Nixon, Kissinger, and rut mosque in Lebanon, leaving 81 civilians which followed the years of murder, torture, U.S. invaded the country, it’s still not clear UNSC urges Allende: US Involvement in the 1973 coup in dead. Celebrated investigative reporter Bob and fear in the late 1960s. The tyranny of a why they did it. It’s a fact, even acknowledged Chile’ by Lubna Qureishi, Howard Doughty Woodward stated that CIA director William fascist-military junta had backing of United by the Western media that the war for Iraq Myanmar for makes a pertinent observation. “The United Casey had admitted personal culpability in States and NATO from 1967 to 1974. As per was a war for oil. Stephen Zunes, professor States and its allies have an unseemly history the attack while he lay on his deathbed, which the rough estimates, around 10,000 workers, of politics at the University of San Francisco, repatriation of of hostility to democracy abroad that seems he said was carried out with funding from students, political leaders and social activ- believes that even more than a decade after to conflict with their expressed political prin- Saudi Arabia. ists were imprisoned and brutally tortured. Iraq debacle, U.S. has not learnt its lessons. Rohingya refugees ciples and their stated purpose in engaging In December 1989, almost 27,000 U.S. In Cambodia, the U.S. resorted to car- “Despite all this, some of the same politicians INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — United Nations Security in military and diplomatic action abroad. soldiers invaded a small Central American pet bombing to overthrow President Prince in Washington who pushed us into war a dec- deskCouncil (UNSC) has urged Myanmar Not only in Latin America, but in Africa, Asia country of Panama to arrest General Manuel Sihanauk, who was replaced by Pol Pot and ade ago are trying to do so again. This time, government to step up efforts to create feasible conditions and occasionally in Europe, it has openly Noriega, a CIA asset-turned-rebel. In the Khmer Rouge and that led to millions of civil- with Iran,” says Zunes. “Once again, then, we for the safe and early repatriation of Rohingya refugees back and clandestinely supported dictatorships. ‘Operation Just Cause’, bombs rained down on ian casualties between mid-1950s and 1970s. have a bipartisan group of senators pressing to their country. The U.S. government’s cozy relation- three neighborhoods - Colon, San Miguelito So, it should be pretty clear which the for war against an oil-rich Middle Eastern In a statement, the council said progress is also needed by ship with Israel is no secret. It has overtly and El Chorillo. El Chorillo was burnt to the breeding ground of terrorism is. Dr Mah- nation, exaggerating the alleged threat, refus- Myanmar on implementing agreements on relations with the and covertly backed Tel Aviv in occupying ground and got a new nickname – ‘Little boob A Khawaja, who specializes in global ing to consider the consequences of war, and UN refugee and development agencies and with Bangladesh Palestinian territories, in blatant breach Hiroshima’. According to the conservative security, peace and conflict resolution, wrote dismissing the caution of experts.” on repatriating Rohingya refugees, who are currently living of international laws and UN resolutions. estimate, between 2,000 and 6,000 people on Global Research website: “The U.S. neo- Back in 1953, a joint British-American in Banglaadesh’s Cox’s Bazar. Veteran Middle East reporter Robert Fisk, were killed in the events that unfolded. conservative gang helped to rob the mankind operation toppled the democratic government The members of the Security Council, the statement said, in an article published in Independent in Congo has been through violent times since of its human heritage. The perception of ‘radi- chosen by the Iranian parliament, and installed continued to stress the importance of undertaking independ- April 2001, drew parallels between Israel its independence. Many observers and activists cal Islam’ was invented and enhanced by the their loyal dictator. “The coup restored the ent and transparent investigations into allegations of human and the apartheid regime of South Africa. trace it to the murder of Patrice Lumumba, the ‘fear’ of terrorism as if Arabs and Muslims Shah to absolute power, initiating a period of rights abuses and violations against Rohingya refugees. In Cuba, America’s record is again terrible. first prime minister of independent Congo, were born in the eye of the storm and terror- 25 years of repression and torture, while the The fresh wave of exodus of persecuted Rohingyas from It has been involved in attempted assassi- which was apparently done at the behest by ism was an exclusive domain of the Islamic oil industry was restored to foreign owner- Myanmar’s Rakhine state started in October 2016 after crack- nations of state heads, bombings, military the then U.S. President Eisenhower. religious tenets.” ship, with the US and Britain each getting down by Myanmar security forces. More than 200,000 of invasions, crippling sanctions et al. Even after In Haiti, the U.S. backed the Duvalier The myth of the “outside enemy” and the 40 percent.” Again, the shadowy forces are them fled to Bangladesh that time. And then in August last half a century, economic blockade remains family dictatorship for 30 years, during threat of “Islamic terrorists” is the cornerstone working overtime to nail Iran, employing year, more than 720,000 Rohingya refugees fled to Bangla- in force. The country has been designated a which the CIA worked closely with death of the U.S. administration’s military doctrine, war rhetoric, brinkmanship, sabre-rattling. desh to escape persecution, murder, arson and rape. terrorist state, figuring prominently on the squads, executioners, and drug traffickers. used as a pretext to invade Afghanistan and But, Iran stands firm, ready to defeat all the State Department’s list of ‘State Sponsors The father-son duo’s three decades at helm Iraq, writes Michel Chossudovsky, author of sinister designs. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JULY 26, 2018 SPECIAL REPORT 7 At the Annual Ordinary GA Meeting: Esfahan Oil Refining Co. Closes Fiscal Year by Paying Rls.300 DPS The Annual Ordinary General Assembly Meeting of Esfahan of environmental performance of the company and added, Oil Refining Company (EORC), for the fiscal year closing on “managing wastes, ordinary and industrial wastes, dredging March 20, 2018, was held in the presence of more than 89 crude oil tanks using N.E.S method in order to reduce sludge percent of its shareholders. caused by dredging in traditional method and also project for In this meeting, EORC approved the distribution of Rls.300 isolating used thermal insulations according to the analysis Dividend per Share (DPS) to shareholders of the company. of Health Faculty of Tehran |University of Medical Sciences Chief Executive of Esfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC) are of the most important projects in this sector.” Lot’ali Chavoshi was the first speaker who expounded a brief He enumerated the projects in Waste Management Di- history on the situation of this industrial and production vision as follows: treating 320 cubic meter waste in hour, unit and added, “despite all ups and downs both inside the refining and recycling 400 cubic meter waste per hour and outside the country, this prestigious company managed to using wastewater for the irrigation of green area, optimization attain a stable situation.” of water recycling unit by installing Clarifier System (UF) and Turning to the design of this industrial and production unit (RO), using Ultraviolet (UV) device in order to disinfect the in 1973 by two prestigious foreign companies and added, “all sanitary sewage and utilization of new RO5 unit for using construction works of the refinery were conducted from 1975 wastewater of RO Unit, etc. to 1978 but after the glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution, Implementation of Air Pollution Control foreign companies left the country.” Plans in EORC Given the above issue, construction operation of the refinery He pointed to the air pollution control plans in the refinery was completed in 1979 by the domestic expert engineers and and added, “production of fuel according to Euro 4 standard the refinery was put into operation in the same year. (with the average daily volume of 11 million liters of gasoline Profitability Is Impossible without Updating and 2 million liters of gasoline), with the implementation of EORC gasoline making units and presenting to the National Iranian Chavoshi pointed to the updating this industrial and pro- Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) for the dis- duction unit and said, “the management of the company has tribution in the province and country, project for the instal- made all its utmost efforts to update the refinery since its lation of online analyzers on outlet of vents according to the establishment.” agreement with the provincial Department of Environment Gaining profit and moving towards profitability is mean- and sending the information online, gasification of furnaces ingless in absence of updating the refinery, he said, adding, “a cubic meter was less than one percent (1%), the rate of which projects will bring about more profitability in the company.” with purchasing new Environmix and preventing the daily major part of products of the refinery was used as fuel oil inside was not a considerable figure for this large industrial and Profitability Caused by Implementation of emission of about 55 tons of sulfur, replacement of ozone the refinery and there was not any concern in this regard.” production unit.” Optimization Project in EORC layer-friendly gases with halons destructive to the ozone Nowadays, Zayandehroud has not a proper and good situa- At the other part of his interview, CEO of the company layer in fire distinguishing system and cooling systems, etc. tion in this respect in a way that the situation of Zayandehroud pointed to the implementation of optimization project in 2015 Possibility of Producing Euro 5 Gasoline in has been turned critical nowadays, he opined. and said, “currently, price of gasoline with euro is different Near Future Defining & Implementing 20 Projects in from the ordinary gasoline in such a way that 230 billion to- Turning to the macro environmental projects of the company, Esfahan Oil Refining Co. mans worth of profit was obtained from selling euro gasoline.” he reiterated, “producing gasoline observing requirements Elsewhere in his remarks, he pointed to the optimization Of total 1,700 billion tomans worth of profit, only 367 of euro-5 standard in very near future in gasoline Making plan and maintaining the capacity of the refinery and added, billion tomans of which related to the income increase for Unit, implementing plan to improve process with the aim of “in the past, there was not any major concern for standardi- production of euro gasoline, he said, adding, “it means that producing fuel according to the world’s latest standards (Euro zation of products but in 2000s, the optimization plans were defined in refineries of the country.” The optimization plan also was defined for Esfahan Oil Refining Company in the past year (ended March 20, 2018). In the same direction, the optimization plans of the refin- eries were defined and executed both with the approach of increasing production capacity and optimization, he opined. Presently, about 20 projects have been defined in Esfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC), he said, adding, “of total 20 projects, construction operation of about eight of which have been completed while construction of the remaining projects is underway.” CEO of the company expounded on the salient specifica- tions of these projects and said, “refining gas oil, managing plan to treat gas oil, completing construction operation of offsite, utility and tanks, launching 3rd Distillation Project, Gradually, environmental prohibitions and restrictions constructing two 227-ton boiler devices, modernizing refinery’s emerged in such a way that using fuel oil in Shahid Montazeri power and electrical systems, monitoring of workshop for the Power Plant was impossible considering the environmental construction operation of 230.33KW substation, construct- requirements, he added. ing and installing 230.33KW substation, etc.” are the main He pointed to the necessity of making decision with regard projects of the refinery. “ to the fuel oil at the refinery and said, “until before, fuel oil Necessity of Implementing Project on Converting of the refinery was exported abroad but recently, export of Fuel Oil to Products with High Added Value fuel oil to other countries is impossible.” He also pointed to the projects predicted for the improve- He called on responsible officials to take effective steps ment of process and optimization of refinery and added, “after in this regard. a hiatus caused by the privatization, these projects have been Then, the managing director elaborated on the definition reactivated since 2014 but the project related to converting of long-term strategy, opportunities and challenges facing fuel oil to the products with high added value was the project the company and added, “updating refinery, confronting the that was ceased in this company.” with the implementation of this project, the company has 4, 5 and 6), construction of distillation units 3, liquefied gas present and future threats such as water shortage problem The company concluded a contract after the implementation earned more income and also has observed environmental 3 in order to removal of operational bottlenecks and produc- is of the serious issue that has been taken into consideration of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official requirements.” tion of middle and final products with superior quality in the in programs and objectives of the company.” title of nuclear deal, with South Korea’s DAELIM Company The government defined this project as prioritized projects very near future, project for the construction of railway line He pointed to the compiled outlook of the refinery and to finance this giant project but when the US was withdrawn in the past year (ended March 20, 2018), he said, adding, and connecting to the nationwide rail network for sending added, “with the studies made, EORC will be turned into a from JCPOA, the South Korean company halted construction “currently, about 21 million liters of gas oil is produced in the products and reducing transit of transport tankers, project leading company in the field of producing oil products in the operation of refinery project in the company, he criticized. country, corroborating to 47 million barrels of oil.” for the construction of HERO Unit, etc. country relying upon its organizational values, human capitals Now, given the sensitivity and significance of subject of the The price difference of two gas oil, which were produced Accelerating in Launching Gas Oil Refining and using world’s most modern technologies.” project, it was envisioned that the project should be followed in Esfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC), stood at $2.96 per and 3rd Distillation Units for Standardization of Compiling Over 10 Executive Programs in up seriously, he added. barrel, he said, adding, “accordingly, once this project had Products EORC Chavoshi went on to say that the remaining projects of the been implemented, 645 billion tomans worth of revenues The CEO of Esfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC) point- More than 70 executive programs have been compiled in the company are in satisfactory situation, earning profitability would have added to the revenues of the company.” ed to the future programs of the company and added, “the refinery, he said, adding, “analysis of the risks of the company for the company, he said, adding, “all available projects of He also pointed to the 3rd distillation Project of the com- Board of Directors is determined to take giant stride with the has been conducted consecutively. For example, risk of water the company will be terminated before the termination of pany and added, “this project adds the light products and constructive recommendations and support of shareholders resources and severe dependency of this industry to water the current year except the optimization project that was put reduces a part of fuel oil.” in line with maintaining and aaccelerating commissioning is the subject that has currently been fallen into oblivion.” into operation in 2015.” Implementation of Waste Management of gas oil refining unit (DHT), 3rd distillation (URP) in line Esfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC) started its activity Projects of Esfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC) follow Projects and Treatment of Waste in EORC with standardization of projects, removing operational bot- in 1979 with the water right of 10 million cubic meter/year two important objectives, he said, adding, “in addition to At the other part of his interview, the managing director tlenecks, accelerating implementation of projects to maintain from Zayandehroud, he said, adding, “in these years, water the legal and environmental requirements, launching these pointed to the Waste Management projects in the section production capacity of refinery, improvement of satisfaction of was allocated consecutively to the refinery but at the current customers, staff and other beneficiaries, reducing or omitting condition, there is sensitivity on the consumption of water risks caused by activities, promoting products qualitatively in such a way that the refinery consumed 9.5 million cubic and quantitatively, etc.” meters of water in the same year.” Receiving International Standard and Award With the coordination made in this regard, not only the from Most Reputable German Refining Co. refinery did not increase its water consumption volume, but also In the end, CEO of the company Chavoshi pointed to the water consumption was reduced considerably, he maintained. credits obtained by the company in national and international As the first industrial and production unit in the country, arenas: receiving commendation and appreciation letters in Esfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC) concluded a contract the field of social responsibility, auditing and reporting to for using wastewater, he emphasized. society, winning title of top research and development (R&D) Saving Water and Defining New Water unit in Research and Technology Festival of Industry, Mine Resources in EORC and Trade in 2016, winning 3rd rank in HSE among other oil Chief Executive of Esfahan Oil Refining Company revealed refining companies in 2016, winning golden trophy for the the serious follow ups of the two objectives and said, “saving National Resistance in oil refining industry, etc.” water was the first and prime objective of this industrial unit. It should be noted that independent auditor and legal Defining new projects was taken into serious consideration. inspector of the company submitted their reports coupled The second objective of the company followed up in this regard with financial statements to the GA of the company for the is related to the definition of new water resources.” fiscal year closing on Mar. 20, 2018. In this line, we may be forced to take partnership in wa- All financial statements of the company were approved ter conveyance projects in the Persian Gulf, he said, adding, by the shareholders unanimously. “under such circumstances, the refinery can be revived and After the approval of 300 rials dividend per share survived from water shortage problem.” (DPS), legal auditors and inspectors of the company were Elsewhere in his remarks, the managing director of Esfahan introduced. In the same direction, a widely circulated Oil Refining Company pointed to estimation of 1.2 billion paper was determined for publishing advertisements cubic meter of Zayandehroud in the past years and said, “the of the company. consumption share of the refinery from this rate of 8 million I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS JULY 26, 2018

Apt in Darous Villa in Shariati-Elahieh Whole Building in Jordan Villa / Apt in Elahieh new, 3th floor, 85 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. fully 1000 sq.m built up, 5000 sq.m 3 floors, 900 sq.m totally 2th floor, 300 sq.m, 4 Bdrs furn, lobby, gym land, 6 Bdrs., outdoor pool green Outdoor pool, pkg, yard luxury furn, nice garden, pkg parking, storage, $1800 garden, parking renovated, $20000 $11000 $4000 negotiable Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Suitable for Suitable for Suitable for Diplomats Residency or Embassy Residency & Embassy Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Apt in Farmanieh Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 1th floor, 135 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. Commercial Building in fully furn, 2 parking places Whole Building in Zafaranieh Valiasr _ Park Melat $1400 Villa in Darous 19 apt & each apt 200 sq.m with 130 sq.m, 3 rooms, almost new Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 duplex, 1200 sq.m built up 2000 3 Bdrs., one penthouse with lobby, security, guest parking good sq.m land, 5 Bdrs. renovated 5 rooms, pkg, 4900 sq.m built up access to highway Amazing Apt in Zafaranieh big saloon, semi furn, beautiful 6900 sq.m land, semi furn full of foreign companies 7th floor, 279 sq.m, 1 master room garden, pool, sauna, Jacuzzi Suitable for Price reasonable 3 Bdrs., fully furn balcony, nice $17000 Residency & Embassy Ms.Diba: 09128103206 view, pkg Suitable for Ms.Diba: 09128103206 lobby man, spj, elevator Apt in Elahieh Residency & Embassy th green garden, renovated Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Whole Building in Jordan 3 floor, 300 sq.m, 4 Bdrs. $6000 negotiable Holder of floors, 780 sq.m totally 6 fully furn, nice & cozy, lobby Ms.Diba: 09128103206 bedrooms, 6 parking, unfurn 12 spj, diplomatic building Super Luxury Villa in Elahieh ISO 9001:2008 almost new, gathering room CCTV $4000 Apt in Soheil 1500 sq.m, 900 sq.m built up ISO 10004:2012 camera, $10000 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 115 sq.m, 2 Bdrs., fully furn duplex, green garden, outdoor Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 pkg, yard, back yard, $2500 pool, renovated, furn & unfurn ISO 10002:2014 Apt in Jordan Ms.Diba: 09128103206 $15000 Whole Building in 5th floor,120 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. Suitable for From Oxford Cert Universal Zafaranieh fully furn, lobby, pkg diplomatic Apt in South Dibaji Embassy & Residency lobby, 30 Bdrs., reception, furn building 100 sq.m, 2 Bdrs., 2 bathrooms Ms.Diba: 09128103206 parking, gathering room $1500 fully furn, clean, near to Arghavan Suitable for Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Park, $1300 Unbelievable Villa in Residency & big companies Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Nice Office in North of Tehran Valiasr Apt in South Kamranieh 7000 sq.m land, 2200 sq.m built Nice Office in Jordan from 250 sq.m up to 7000 sq.m 7th floor, 250 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. up, duplex, 7 Bdrs., big saloon 300 sq.m, renovated, parking commercial office, ready for equipped kitchen, pkg green garden, renovated waterfall full of foreign companies, lobby renting to foreign companies 18 sq.m balcony, renovated Suitable for good access to highway lobby, parking lot swimming pool, yard Embassy or Residency $10000 good access to highway Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Ms.Diba: 09128103206

For Rent in The Tehran Times new pocket-sized glossary is now available on the market. The reader-friendly is a rich source of the most common Aghdassiyeh journalistic terminology collected by the daily’s retired staff. Boustan St., 190 sqm, Diplomatic Area , 4th It can benefit a wide range of tastes from students to professional journalists. Persian equivalents have been given for all entries, including Floor , Fully Furnished , Parking ,Superb idioms and expressions. The glossary also includes example sentences Material , Lobby, Spj , Pics Available . for entries the authors thought it would be a bit difficult to learn. English , French , Italian Spoken Agent For more information contact: Price: 2500 USD Tel:021 - 430 51 450 Ms. Zandi : 09123728127 [email protected] TEHRAN TIMES Iran’s Leading International Daily Advertising Dept

Tel: 021 - 430 51 450 [email protected] ADVERTISEMENTS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JULY 26,26, 2018 HEALTHADVERTISEMENT 9 Ambulances to be equipped with PERSIAN MEDICINE By Seyed Mahdi Mirghazanfari homegrown telemonitoring systems Take medicinal plants with caution HEALTH TEHRAN — Ambulances deskin Iran will be equipped with domestically-produced telemonitoring systems in the near future, head of medical equipment industry of Armed Forces has said. In relief operations, money doesn’t matter, what matters is the time. Relief operations are a matter of life and death. Telemonitoring helps medical workers save lives in the most fast-paced, urgent con- Taking medicinal plants on the supposition that they have no side ditions. An ambulance-to-hospital based effects is absolutely wrong. All medicinal plants, including herbal telemedicine system provides real-time teas, have some benefits and side effects at the same time and can patient information to the hospital via cause problems if not taken in accordance with one’s temperament. wireless communications, which enables Should we drink 8 glasses of water every day? remote diagnoses and primary care and reducing rescue response time. Currently when a patient arrives at the hospital in an ambulance, doctors know nothing about their condition. That means wasted time getting information from emergency medical technicians, checking notes and asking questions before they could start treatment. The homegrown telemonitoring systems with the Persian acronym of SADRA are al- ready installed in ambulances in three cities of Hamden, Tabriz and Mashhad within the You’ve most probably heard the advice “drink eight glasses of water a framework of a pilot scheme and as per an day”. However, according to Iranian traditional medicine most healthy agreement with Iran’s Emergency Medical people can stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever Services will be installed on 400 ambulances they feel thirsty, for instance in hot days, and after exercising or sweating. nationwide, YJC quoted Mehrdad Rahmati The homegrown telemonitoring systems with the Persian acronym Fresh fig a treatment for constipation as saying on Wednesday. of SADRA are already installed in ambulances in three cities of The use of telemedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke, or telestroke Hamden, Tabriz and Mashhad within the framework of a pilot is also available during ambulance transfer, scheme and as per an agreement with Iran’s Emergency Medical Rahmati noted. The production of the system cost some Services will be installed on 400 ambulances nationwide. 125 million rials (nearly $3,000) while the the rapid growth in technology. Based on the existing medical surveys, the world; for instance, approximately 2.8 European models cost ten times more ex- According to an article published in telemedicine has been adopted to take million people die each year as a result of pensive, he highlighted. OMICS International, an organization that care of the patients with cardiac diseases, being overweight or obese as obesity can Rahmati explained that they are plan- amalgamates Open Access Publications and diabetes, hypotension, hypertension, hy- lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood ning on doing the necessary procedures to International science events for the benefit perthermia, and hypothermia, according to pressure and cholesterol which ultimately export the systems. of the global scientific community, In order the International Journal of Telemedicine increases the risks of coronary heart disease, Telemedicine supports emer- to improve quality in emergency medical and Applications. ischemic stroke, diabetes mellitus, and a gency ambulance system services (EMS), highly trained personnel The most promising application is in number of common cancers. Fresh fig can help treat constipation especially if the con- Online telemedicine systems are and well-equipped ambulances are essen- real-time monitoring of chronic illnesses According to the World Health Organ- dition is caused by cold and dry temperament. If the patient is useful due to the possibility of timely tial, however, several studies have shown such as cardiopulmonary disease, asthma, ization (WHO), it has been estimated that also suffering from anemia or is recovering from a disease fig and efficient healthcare services. These a deficiency in qualified EMS physicians. and heart failure in patients located far from heart disease rate might increase to 23.3% can benefit them. systems are based on advanced wireless Telemedicine emerges as a comple- the medical care facilities through wireless worldwide by the year 2030. The treat- Seyed Mahdi Mirghazanfari, MD, holds a PhD degree in med- and wearable sensor technologies. The mentary system in EMS that may provide monitoring systems. ment of such chronic diseases requires ical physiology and is an Iranian-Islamic traditional medicine scope of remote health monitoring sys- expertise and improve quality of medical Heart diseases have become one of the continuous and long term monitoring to researcher. He is also an assistant professor in AJA University tems have remarkably enhanced due to treatment on the scene. leading causes of human fatalities around control the threat. of Medical Sciences, Tehran.

SATISFACTION TASHRIFAT INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY GUARANTEED

FOR: APARTMENT VILLA OFFICE EMBASSY/COMPANY Jordan Elahiyeh From 50 to 8000 sq.m available Jordan, 4 Bdrs,fully 4-storey building,1000 sq.m, Triplex-800 sq.m built up,1000 With all facilities in different furn,260sq.m,spj,$3000 all facilities,$10000 sq.m land,Semi-furn,7 areas Jordan Jordan Bdrs,spj,$9000 Mr. Shahin Zaferaniyeh 3Bdrs,fully furn,2nd fl.,250 Nobody does it better 100 sq.m,3 Triplex villa,800 sq.m,built sq.m,spj,,$2500 rooms,parking,brand new up,1000 sq.m land,12 Zaferaniyeh rooms,$8500 3rd fl.,$1700 Darous Duplex, 4 Bdrs,unfurn,350 09121081212 2Bdrs,fully furn,3rd fl.,brand Since: 1987 Niavaran new,100 sqm,lobby sq.m,spj,$8000 Valiasre Triplex villa,2000 sq.m sq.m brand new, all land,600 sq.m built up ,spj,all 150 مالکین محرتم امالک مسکونی و اداری شام را 1600 facilities,$15000 Niavaran facilities,5th fl.,$2300 جهت اجاره به خارجی نیازمندیم ,Zaferaniyeh-Yekta Apartment-villa 2000 sq.m land,green Darous Vozara French-style garden,500 sq.m built up Duplex villa,600 sq.m built 3Bdrs,fully furn 360 sq.m.sp, Tel: 22723121 250 sq.m,all facilities up,1000 sq.m land ,all area,indoor spj,4Bdrs,fully EURO 5000 [email protected] 8th fl.,,$4000 facilities,$8000 furn,triplex,$15000 Valiasre-Bagheferdos Other areas: 3 Bdrs,fully furn,brand We give service with a Mirdamad-Naft Farmaniyeh new,5th fl., 150 sq.m ,indoor Darous difference…We care! 120 sq.m,6th fl., $1700 Aghdasiyeh spj,$1900 1000 sq.m land,400 sq.m built Shahrak Gharb Long & Short term rentals Shariati-Pasdaran up area, flat.4 Bdrs,spj.$7000 vanak Mirdamad-Naft Valiasre shariati 3 Bdrs.fully furn,5th fl.,200 Purchase Properties Tajrish sq.m, $ 2000 pasdaran Jordan Jordan Close to Paladium Shopping shahrak gharb Vanak center 850 sq.m land,500 sq.m FURNISHED - UNFURNISHED Arjantin saadatabad 3Bdrs,180 sq.m,fully built up,5 Bdrs,spj,furn/ Villa-Apartment-Office- Zafar… unfurn,duplex,$7000 4000-3000-5000-4000-1000 furn,lobby,sp,garden,$2000 Building sq.m,full,reasonable price nice cases ready to move in. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM JULY 26, 2018

Over 29,000 Iranians visited Prehistoric “Persian guard” Bulgaria in 2017: envoy on the way home U.S. judge rules return of Achaemenid-era relief to Iran

HERITAGE TEHRAN — A U.S. deskjudge said on Mon- day an Achaemenid-era (550-330 BC) bas-relief should be returned to Iran, where the object was originally stolen from some 80 years ago. The limestone relief, which depicts a Persian guard, was confiscated in Oc- tober from the Park Avenue Armory in New York, where it was being offered for Bulgarian Ambassador Christo Polendakov speaks at the Mehr sale at an art fair, the New York Times news agency in Tehran, July 23, 2018. reported. Investigators have said the item, val- TOURISM TEHRAN — More than 29,000 Iranian ued at $1.2 million, was reported stolen desknationals visited Bulgaria during 2017, the from Iran in 1936 and stolen later in 2011 Bulgarian ambassador to Tehran has said. from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Over 29,000 Iranians applied for Bulgarian visas last year; to which it had been donated decades some 95 percent of whom requested for tourist visas, Mehr quoted earlier. Christo Polendakov as saying on Tuesday. However, the two London-based That was while Iran just hosted roughly one thousand people owners of the relief, Rupert Wace and from the southeastern European state, the report added. Sam Fogg, have claimed they acquired The number of Iranian travelers [visiting Bulgaria so far] this the object legally from the Montreal year is nearly the same as it was last year, Polendakov added. museum’s insurance company. Wace and Fogg have pledged to sur- render the item, the report added. The bas-relief is an eight-inch-square Arg-e Rayen to host piece of carved limestone that was part of a long line of soldiers depicted on gastronomy, handicrafts a balustrade at the central building on the Persepolis site. It dates to the festival Achaemenid dynasty — or the First Persian Empire — and experts said it was made sometime between 510 and 330 BC, when Persepolis was sacked by A 1933 photograph of an excavation of the ruins of Persepolis in Iran. The bas-relief of a soldier from these ruins, which was seized at a Alexander the Great. Manhattan art fair last year, was ordered to be returned to Iran on July 23, 2018. ‘Cloud forest’ to host intl. eco-marathon TOURISM TEHRAN — Jangal-e resources and sustainable development in deskAbr (literally meaning the region, the official added. cloud forest) in Semnan province will be Sprawling on an area of 35,000 hectares, hosting international an eco-marathon Jangal-e Abr is a remnant of the ancient A view of the historical Arg-e Rayen in Kerman province match on August 30. Caspian and Hyrcanian forests that encircles It will be composed of a marathon run northern slopes of the mountain range. of 42 kms and a half-marathon of 21 kms, It is generally covered by a blanket-looking HERITAGE TEHRAN — A festival on traditional dishes Mehr quoted provincial tourism chief Mo- clouds, which shapes a scenic landscape. The deskand handicrafts opens today at Arg-e Rayen, a hammad Jahanshahi as saying on Monday. forest can be reached some 45 kms northeast historical adobe citadel in the southeastern province of Kerman. The sports event is intended to foster of the city of , off a road connecting The one-week event is dedicated to female artisans, chefs, natural tourist attractions, conservation of Shahrud and Azadshahr. and cooks, CHTN reported. Free-of-charge cooking training, talent contests and live music Mashhad carpet bazaar to regain Iran resumes visa on arrival performances are amidst side-section programs of the festival. “Some 75 percent of the domestically-made handicrafts are former glory for Indian nationals produced by females,” Masoumeh Ebtekar, vice president for women’s and family affairs, said in April.

ROUND THE GLOBE Historic site of Lyon

Located in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, at the con- fluence of the Saone and the Rhone Rivers, the city of Lyon is dominated by two hills: Fourviere to the west and Croix- Rousse to the east. The long history of Lyon, from a proto-urban agglomeration HERITAGE TEHRAN – The historical carpet bazaar of Mashhad will be re- TOURISM TEHRAN — On Monday, Iran resumed issuance of visas on ar- from the Celtic era to its founding by the Romans with the deskstored to its former glory. deskrivals for Indian passport holders following some four years of capital of Trois Gaules in the 1st century BC, has continued to The bazaar is located adjacent to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Khorasan halt, Mehr reported. play a major role in Europe’s political, cultural and economic Razavi province. The project was jointly approved by the Cultural Heritage, Handi- The new policy is implemented months after India started granting such privilege crafts and Tourism Organization, and Mashhad Municipality in a bid to foster urban to Iranian travelers at New Delhi and Mumbai airports, the report said. space diversity and tourism, ISNA reported on Tuesday. For the time being, citizens of about 190 countries can obtain visa on arrival at Rehabilitation of the marketplace will be in accordance with historical documents Iran’s international airports with one-month validation. and evidence with regard to its proper use, the report added. Filled from corner to corner with ancient bazaars, mosques, gardens and museums, Some 30 million travelers and pilgrims visited Khorasan Razavi province during Iran hosts some of the world’s oldest historical monuments, 23 of which inscribed on the past Iranian calendar year (March 2017-2018). the UNESCO World Heritage list. Is this the beginning of the end for air travel liquid restrictions? It has been years in the making but a new items from hand luggage for screening”. tested at Amsterdam Schiphol and John F to cancel more than 1,500 flights. scanner could soon be in place across UK Luton Airport tested a similar CT scanner Kennedy in New York, and are already used Will the new technology spell airports that will free travelers from the last year that would allow passengers to take on hold luggage at a number of airports. the end of the liquid ban? hassle of having to remove gadgets and liq- carry-on luggage through security without It is not yet clear where in Heathrow the There is no word on whether the introduc- uids from their hand luggage when going removing liquids. A spokesperson for the tests will take place and the DfT told the tion of new scanners would lead to a change through security. airport said the results of the trial were handed Guardian passengers should still expect to in the restrictions on liquids, though in theory General view over the centuries-old Lyon Back in 2016 Telegraph Travel first re- to the Department for Transport. be asked to remove items from their bags. if the technology can alert staff to threats in ported that new equipment using CT (com- What are the current rules? Why was the ban in introduced 100ml of liquids, it could do so in any volume. development, and is vividly illustrated by its urban fabric puterized tomography) technology was being All liquids, including drinks, cosmetics in the first place? But that principle has been so ever since and the many fine historic buildings dating from all periods. tested at airports in the U.S., beginning in and toiletries, sprays, toothpaste, gels and Introduced by the UK government in Au- 2006. Humans have settled at this site destined for urbanization conjunction with American Airlines at Phoe- semi-liquid foods such as soup, jam and gust 2006, the legislation was in response to “I would understand more if there was a for more than two thousand years and built a city whose stages nix, Arizona. honey, must be in containers no larger than a foiled terror plot to blow up flights between total ban than a restriction,” said Philip Baum, of development are still visible today: from the Roman vestiges Since then the X-ray scanners, working 100ml, which must then be placed in a single, the UK and North America. editor of Aviation Security International, in of antique Lugdunum to the medieval streets on the slopes of in the same way as CAT scanners used in transparent, resalable plastic bag, which in Three British men were convicted for con- an interview with Telegraph Travel. “It just Fourviere and the Renaissance dwellings of Vieux-Lyon, from hospitals, have moved closer to home with turn can only hold a liter. spiring to assemble improvised explosive demonstrates that governments, and not the peninsula with a wealth of classical architecture to the London Heathrow this week said to be running “Contents must fit comfortably inside the devices on board transatlantic jets – devices just the UK government, but governments slopes of Croix-Rousse with its very particular canut dwellings, a “small number” of trials that would last bag so it can be sealed,” states Government containing a liquid derived from hydrogen around the world, want to have tick-box se- which bear witness to an essential page in the history of the between six and 12 months. The scanners, regulations. “You’re limited to one plastic peroxide – and detonate them above the curity – they don’t want screeners to apply laboring classes of the 19th century. which can detect explosives, allow security bag per person.” Atlantic, killing all those onboard. their common sense.” The specificity of Lyon is its progressive expansion to- staff to assess items - including liquids - with- Liquids of 100ml or less cannot be taken The Government, along with governments Baum told the Guardian this week that the wards the east while preserving, at each stage of its growth, out needing them to be removed from bags. on board if they are in containers greater than around the world, responded to the plot by new technology “is the beginning of the end the richness of its earlier dwellings. Unlike many other cities A spokesperson for Heathrow said: “We 100ml. For example, if you have finished introducing strict rules prohibiting passengers of the liquid ban”, though there is nothing where the center was destroyed in order to be rebuilt in the continue to look at new technologies that can three quarters of a 200ml jar of your favorite from taking little more than their wallets to suggest that is the case. same place with new architecture, Lyon’s center has shifted both improve the passenger experience and Slovenian honey, you still will not be able through security. Baum is not alone in his criticism of the location, enabling the safeguarding of whole districts whose strengthen our security.” to take it in your hand luggage. Only some Chaos ensued; security checkpoints were limits (he says would-be terrorists could “bud- permanence renders the history of the city visible on the build- The Department for Transport said if the medicines, baby food and items of special overwhelmed, baggage systems were swamped dy up” with others to mix explosive liquids ings themselves. trials were successful “this could lead in future dietary requirement are exempt. and airports ground to a near standstill. Things in a bigger bottle bought from duty free). (Source: UNESCO) to passengers no longer needing to remove The latest 3D scanners have already been got so bad that British Airways was forced (Source: The Telegraph) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JULY 26, 2018 SCIENCE 11 Researchers develop model for predicting Moon could have been habitable landslides caused by earthquakes once, scientists speculate The Moon today is not habitable. It’s covered in potentially killer The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, happen and five key variables: how much dust and seemingly dry as a bone. But though it seems wild to China, killed tens of thousands of people the ground shook during an earthquake; think, a new perspective wonders: What if the Moon used to be and left millions homeless. About 20,000 the steepness of the ground; the type of rock friendly to life? deaths -- nearly 30 percent of the total -- affected; an estimate of how wet the ground Scientist Dirk Schulze-Makuch from TU Berlin and Ian Craw- resulted not from the ground shaking itself is; and what type of land cover is present. The ford from Birkbeck, University of London speculate that, while but from the landslides that it triggered. researchers tested multiple versions based it might seem “outrageous,” recent results show that the Moon A model developed by researchers at on past earthquake-triggered landslides and is wetter than scientists have previously thought — so maybe, Indiana University can help experts address selected the model with predictions that once, it had the conditions for life. such risks by estimating the likelihood of best matched where landslides occurred. landslides that will be caused by earthquakes The affected populations anywhere in the world. The estimates can By entering data for ground shaking for be available within minutes, providing a specific earthquake -- available anywhere potentially life-saving information to people around the globe from the U.S. Geological who are affected by earthquakes and the Survey ShakeMap tool -- scientists will be agencies and organizations charged with able to use the model to produce a map responding to them. showing the probability of landslides in “Earthquakes can be devastating, horrific areas near the quake. Available within and stressful events,” said Anna Nowicki minutes, the results could provide this Jessee, a postdoctoral research fellow in the information quickly to agencies that assist IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences’ affected populations. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Landslides are the third-largest Sciences who developed the model. contributor to earthquake deaths, after They’re not saying it did, of course. “Whether life ever arose The ultimate goal Research: Earth Surface. Authors, in Geological Survey and the University of building collapse and tsunamis. From 2004 on the Moon, or was transported to it from elsewhere, is of course The “ultimate goal of this work is addition to Jessee, include Michael Twente in the Netherlands. to 2010, earthquake-induced landslides highly speculative and can only be addressed by an aggressive that fast, regional estimates of landslide Hamburger and Scott Robeson of IU The model describes a mathematical caused an estimated 47,000 deaths. future program of lunar exploration,” they write in the article, occurrence would provide a way for those Bloomington and colleagues at the U.S. relationship between where landslides Damaging quakes often occur in remote published in the journal Astrobiology. I encourage you to read the who are affected to receive the aid they and mountainous regions with limited article, as it’s free and pretty comprehensible for a scientific paper. need more quickly and efficiently.” Researchers tested multiple versions transportation and communication networks, This habitability period, if it really occurred, might have hap- The model, based on data from past where landslides can block roads and impede pened either just after the Moon’s formation from a massive earthquakes and landslides, will be based on past earthquake-triggered emergency-response and relief efforts. collision with Earth 4.5 billion years ago, or 3.5 billion years incorporated into the U.S. Geological Survey’s landslides and selected the model with The “best part for me,” Jessee said, “is ago, after a period of volcanism which may have resulted in a Ground Failure tool, which will be part of the idea that this product can be used to thin lunar atmosphere. the USGS earthquake reporting system. predictions that best matched where actually help people who are impacted by Such an atmosphere would have lasted perhaps tens of millions of A paper describing the model has been landslides occurred. landslides caused by earthquakes.” years. Maybe water existed on the Moon at this point. May- published in the Journal of Geophysical (Source: eurekalert.org) be 10 million years was enough time for some rudimentary life to evolve on the Moon. Maybe Earthly life traveled over to the Moon on asteroids. The totally had a sibling , scientists claim The researchers stress that “habitability requires much more than just the presence of a significant atmosphere and liquid Andromeda is one terrifying galaxy, according Andromeda, in particular, had a voracious determine exactly how many it a large sibling, and we never knew about water.” One such requirement would be the presence of organic to a new research. Apparently, the Milky appetite: apart from M32p, Andromeda is has eaten up. So researchers looked at the it,” said Bell. compounds. And there are obviously not the same water-creat- Way had a sibling galaxy, but Andromeda believed to have eaten hundreds more of evidence and created computer simulations, The revelation also gave birth to an ed features on the Moon that we see here on Earth or on Mars, just ate it all up, no biggie. The smaller galaxies around it. which then helped them reconstruct the entirely new mystery: Andromeda has like drainage channels — though maybe these existed and were is a large place. Really, really large. As a That’s quite unfortunate because when events that lead to M32p’s death billions a small called M32, but eroded by small meteors and solar winds. result of its sheer scope, astronomers and larger galaxies eat up smaller ones, it’s of years ago. scientists don’t know where it came from. (Source: gizmodo.com) scientists are still unable to figure out tons downright near impossible to trace the The said halo is what originally caught the Using this theory, they can extrapolate that of its mysteries, including the Milky Way smaller galaxies individually. M32p isn’t attention of researcher Richard D’Souza and the dense, compact galaxy might actually once having a sibling. small, though. In fact, it would have been Professor Eric Bell, both from the astronomy be the remnants of M32p. Two billion years ago, as it turns out, the third largest galaxy in the department at the University of Michigan. The discovery is astounding because it Researchers create an the Milky Way had a sibling galaxy called had Andromeda not eaten it. It was at least New computer simulations revealed that reveals new theories about the universe M32p. Then, Andromeda just ate it. 20 times larger than any galaxy the Milky the outer halo around Andromeda was scientists would have never been able to aerosol spray loaded with Andromeda, the Milky Way’s nearest Way has ever merged with. the result of one large galaxy having been come up on their own. That’s largely thanks nanobots and largest galactic neighbor, essentially Milky Way violently torn apart. to computer simulations, of course, which gobbled up M32p, according to a new study For a long time, astronomers have known “Astronomers have been studying the help astronomers get a better sense of how You may have sworn off aerosol sprays in the ’90s when every- published in Nature Astronomy. Think of about Milky Way’s long lost sibling — that’s Local Group — the Milky Way, Andromeda galaxies evolve over time. It also shows just one was talking about the hole in the ozone layer, but a team of galaxies as hungry monsters who need to where the halo of around Andromeda and their companions — for so long. It was how terrifying Andromeda is. researchers from MIT has found a use for aerosols that could be feed on other monsters to keep growing — comes from. It’s extremely difficult to shocking to realize that the Milky Way had (Source: Tech Times) good for both the environment and our health. This spray contains nanobots, tiny sensors with the potential to do everything, from detecting dangerous leaks in pipelines, to diagnosing health issues. Each sensor in the aerosol spray contains two parts. The first is Rice with fewer stomata requires less water Warming Arctic could be behind a colloid, an extremely tiny insoluble particle or molecule. Colloids and is better suited for climate change heatwave sweeping northern hemisphere are so small, in fact, they can remain suspended in a liquid or the air indefinitely — the force of particles colliding around them is stronger than the force of gravity attempting to pull them down. The second part of the sensor is a complex circuit containing a chemical detector built from a two-dimensional material, such as graphene. When this detector encounters a certain chemical in its environment, its ability to conduct electricity improves. The circuit also contains a photodiode, a device that can convert am- bient light into electric current. The researchers grafted their circuits onto colloids, thereby giving them the colloid’s ability to travel in unique environments. Once combined, the researchers aerosolized the nanobots (converted them into a sprayable form). This delivery method wouldn’t be possible without the addition of the colloid. “(The circuits) can’t exist without a substrate,” said the study’s lead author Michael Strano in a news release. The MIT team sees a number of potential diagnostic uses for their sprayable, microscopic sensors, demonstrating a couple in their study. As one example, they designed their sensors to detect the toxic chemical ammonia, then tested its ability within a sealed section of pipe. They sprayed the sensors into one side of a pipe, Rice plants engineered to have fewer study, said: “Future predicted decreases This heatwave across much of the in California. In Algeria’s Sahara Desert, then gathered them at the other end using a piece of cheesecloth. stomata — tiny openings used for gas in water availability, combined with in- northern hemisphere could continue a temperature of 51.°C was recorded on (Source: futurism.com) exchange — are more tolerant to drought creased frequency of extreme drought for weeks, and possibly even months. 5 July, a record for Africa, and Canada and resilient to future climate change, a and high temperature events, are likely And accelerated warming in the Arctic has already seen 18 days exceeding 30°C, new study has revealed. to present particular challenges for farm- compared to the rest of the planet could compared with nine all last summer. More mysteries of metallic Scientists from the University of Shef- ers—resulting in substantial crop loss. be a key contributor. One reason is that the jet stream — a field have discovered that engineering a “Our study has shown that rice plants The heatwaves have killed dozens in fast-flowing river of air snaking contin- hydrogen, research says high-yielding rice cultivar to have reduced with fewer stomata are drought tolerant Japan and Korea, triggered wildfires ually round the northern hemisphere at stomatal density, helps the crop to conserve and more conservative in their water use. in California and Sweden, and led to altitudes of around 6 kilometers — has Metallic hydrogen is one of the rarest materials on Earth yet it water and to survive high temperatures This means they should perform better in prolonged dry weather in the UK and stalled over Europe since May, and could makes up more than 80 percent of planets like Jupiter. and drought. the future under climate change conditions. across northern Europe, raising tem- continue to do so, trapping regions of The research has implications in planet formation and evolution, Much of humanity relies on rice as a “We found that the engineered rice peratures beyond 30°C in Scandinavian high pressure that are cloudless, wind- including how planets both inside and outside our Solar System food source, but rice cultivation is particu- crops gave equivalent or even improved sectors of the Arctic Circle. In Greece, less and extremely hot. form magnetic shields. larly water intensive—using an estimated yields, which means it could have a mas- the deadliest wildfires in more than a “It’s been a key player in the as- Metallic hydrogen is one of the rarest materials on Earth, yet 2,500 litres of water per kilogram of rice sive impact on our future food security decade have claimed at least 74 lives. tounding heatwaves across the UK more than 80 percent of planets -- including Jupiter, Saturn, and produced. which is threatened by climate change.” “It could persist for weeks, poten- and Scandinavia this summer,” says hundreds of extrasolar planets -- are composed of this exotic However, almost half of the global The new study, published today tially for months,” a spokesperson for Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University form of matter. rice crop derives from rain-fed agricul- (Wednesday 25 July 2018) in New Phy- the UK Meteorological Office told New in New Jersey. Its abundance in our Solar System -- despite its rarity on Earth tural systems where drought and high tologist and conducted in collaboration Scientist. She says evidence is mounting that -- makes metallic hydrogen an intriguing focus for researchers at temperatures are predicted to become with the International Rice Research The outlook was echoed by the Ger- accelerated warming of the Arctic is a the University of Rochester’s Laboratory of Laser Energetics (LLE) more frequent and damaging under cli- Institute in the Philippines, found low man Weather Service, DWD, which major reason why the jet stream keeps who study planet formation and evolution, including how planets mate change. stomatal density rice lines used just 60 warned this week of a “continuation getting stalled. The stream is driven by both inside and outside our Solar System form magnetic shields. Like most plants, rice uses micro- per cent of the normal amount of water. of the drought situation and above-nor- collisions between cold air descending “Metallic hydrogen is the most abundant form of matter in our scopic pores called stomata to regulate When grown at elevated atmospheric mal temperatures for at least the next southward from the Arctic and warm air planetary system,” says Mohamed Zaghoo, a research associate carbon dioxide uptake for photosynthesis, carbon dioxide levels, the low stomatal two weeks for Northern Europe, from pushing northward from the equator. at the LLE. “It’s a shame we don’t have it naturally here on earth, along with the release of water vapour via density rice plants were able to survive Ireland to the Baltic States and southern The greater the temperature differ- but on Jupiter, there are oceans of metallic hydrogen. We want transpiration. When water is plentiful, drought and high temperature (40 degrees Scandinavia”. ence between the colliding air streams, to find out how these oceans give rise to Jupiter’s enormous stomatal opening also permits regula- Celsius) for longer than unaltered plants. Last week, temperatures exceeded the more powerful the jet stream. But magnetic field.” Zaghoo and Gilbert ‘Rip’ Collins, a professor of tion of plant temperature by evaporative Julie Gray, Professor of Plant Molecu- 30°C in the Scandinavian region of the the temperature gap — and therefore mechanical engineering and of physics and director of Rochester’s cooling. Under water-limiting drought lar Biology and lead author of the study, Arctic Circle, with Norway recording a the power of the jet stream — is being high-energy-density physics program, studied the conductivi- conditions, stomatal closure normally said: “Stomata help plants to regulate record high temperature of 33.5°C in weakened because the Arctic is warming ty of metallic hydrogen to further unravel the mysteries of the slows down water loss. Low stomatal their water use, so this study could have Bardufoss, a town just south of Tromsø. twice as fast as the rest of the planet, dynamo effect -- the mechanism that generates magnetic fields density rice conserves its water better a significant impact on other crops which More than 50 forest fires raged through supplying the stream with increasingly on planets including Earth. under drought, and so has more water are at risk under climate change. Sweden in mid-July. warmer air. Heating water, for example, generates a gas in the form of left to cool itself when necessary. “At the University of Sheffield we be- Heatwaves claim deaths “Heatwaves over northern hemi- water vapor; freezing it creates solid ice. Hydrogen is normally a Dr. Robert Caine, Research Associate lieve in a sustainable future and work Heatwaves in Japan and South Korea sphere continents in recent years fit gas, but at high temperatures and pressures -- the conditions that from the University of Sheffield’s Depart- towards solutions to the most pressing have claimed at least 40 and 10 lives the hypothesis that rapid Arctic warming exist within planets like Jupiter -- hydrogen takes on the prop- ment of Molecular Biology and Biotech- global challenges.” respectively, with high temperatures is playing a role,” says Francis. erties of a liquid metal and behaves like an electrical conductor. nology and Principal Investigator of the (Source: phys.org) and dry conditions triggering wildfires (Source: newscientist.com) (Source: Science Daily) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY JULY 26, 2018

‘Giant wind-and-wave- Majlis hammering out details of powered Pac Man’ to gobble up great Pacific garbage patch long-awaited bill on rights of children The Ocean Cleanup is preparing to launch its highly anticipated SOCIETY TEHRAN — Finally after stigmatized due to their physical or mental desk cleanup system in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. But the contrap- months of debates on the disabilities or gender identity disorder by tion’s final design looks slightly different from the original vision. bill on children’s right, Majlis [the Iranian their parents or guardians. The non-profit organization, founded by 23-year-old Dutch parliament] is considering the bill in detail. MPs also considered involvement of chil- inventor and entrepreneur Boyan Slat, aims to rid the world’s Majlis passed a law on children’s right in dren in illegal activities such as smuggling, oceans of plastic. 2002, however, a lack of clarity in the law and as well as addiction to drugs, psychotropic ineffective legislative strategies prompted substances or alcoholic beverages, as exam- the parliamentarians to start to revise the ples situation which do harm to children. law in 2006. Six years later in 2012 a new As per the bill proposed, any harmful bill on children’s right was brought before situation caused by extreme poverty, dis- the parliament, which is currently being placement, asylum seeking, immigration discussed to be a law. or statelessness; as well as abuse or sexual The current law on children’s right is inef- exploitation will be considered as danger- fective in that in many cases of child abuse the ous and leads to a punishment fitting the punishment does not fit the crime. Releasing crime which has become harsher under criminals on parole, giving remissions, and the new law. not granting responsible bodies the authority Moreover the parliamentarians tasked to fight violence against children are some of responsible bodies including Iran’s Welfare the shortcomings of the current law. Organization, Ministry of Health, Ministry Moreover, there is a need for establishment of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, Five years ago, the then-teenager made headlines and inspired of special courts or child-friendly courts for Ministry of Education Islamic Republic of folks around the world for his ocean plastic-capturing concept. cases of child abuse. There is no exact and Iran Broadcasting, and Police to take nec- Earlier prototypes, for instance, featured an anchored platform unambiguous definition of “abuse” in the law, essary actions in child maltreatment cases and a V-shaped floating barrier that passively corrals plastics which opens up possibility of interpreting the where necessary. with wind and ocean currents. But during testing, they realized word in different ways, and hence it might According to the World Health Organ- they underestimated the impact of wind, waves and currents benefit the criminals in many cases. will be set up in all provinces throughout the Situations that could result in harm to ization, child maltreatment has enormous on the system. And now, at long last the parliament country, which operates under the supervision children are including addiction of parents immediate and long-term repercussions. After years of research and development, the Ocean Cleanup team have approved some of the articles of the of the head office. or legal guardians to harmful psychotropic In addition to death, physical injury and announced a redesign of the system that features a 600-meter-long bill in a parliamentary debate on Wednes- As per another article of the law, any substances or drugs, being infected with disability, violence can lead to stress that floating pipe with a tapered 3-meter skirt attached underneath day, IRNA reported. parents, legal guardians or whoever has the transmissible viruses, being involved in the impairs brain development and damages to catch debris. The sea anchors were also eliminated entirely. As per an article agreed by parliamentar- custody of the child that neglect their child or business of prostitution, recurrent aggression the nervous and immune systems which is Slat described the new anchor-free system, set for deployment ians, offices for the protection of children’s their responsibilities towards them, which and domestic violence. associated with delayed cognitive develop- into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in two months, as “a giant right, which will be affiliated to the judici- leads the child to be subjected to any criminal Moreover parents who refuse to register ment, poor school performance and dropout, wind-and-wave-powered Pac Man.” ary, will be established in order to identify misdemeanor or injuries to their physical, their child birth or denying to get identifica- mental health problems, suicide attempts, “Both the plastic and system are being carried by the current,” cooperation areas with other institutions, mental, social, moral, safety or negatively tion documents for a child without any legal increased health-risk behaviors, victimization the nonprofit explains. “However, wind and waves propel only the prepare case reports and periodic reports, affect their educational achievement, and justification, may also face imprisonment. and the perpetration of violence. system, as the floater sits just above the water surface, while the conduct statistical studies, and monitor and in general could result in harm to children, Other forms of child neglect such as A quarter of all adults reported having been plastic is primarily just beneath it. The system thus moves faster evaluate provincial offices actions toward are liable to imprisonment. truancy or not letting children to attend physically abused as children worldwide. One than the plastic, allowing the plastic to be captured.” enforcing the law. Such maltreatments will results in legal school is also punishable by the law. The in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report having The contraption is also fitted with solar-powered lights, an- Based on the article, the aforesaid offices interference and protection of the child. law also will be applied to children who are been sexually abused as a child. ti-collision systems, sensors and cameras and satellite antennas, meaning it can communicate its position at all times. ‘No water rationing in Tehran thanks to Long lasting flames hitting Hour The captured plastic will be collected by a vessel every few months. The debris will then be sorted for recycling or up-cycled spring rainfalls’ al-Azim extinguished to create new products. “Although there is a fair chance this won’t be the last iteration of our ocean cleanup technology, we have high confidence that it addresses the stability issues and that this will be the design responsible for collecting the first plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch later this year,” Slat wrote. (Source: Eco Watch) LEARN ENGLISH Bad news, boss

A: ... Now that we have been over the gory details of our disastrous first quarter, Ed! Give us some good news. How are things looking for us in terms of sales this month? B: Uh well...would you like the bad news first or the really bad news? A: What? Ed, don’t tell me you only have bad news! ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — No water dams, Bakhtiari said, adding that due to ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The Is- Currently, all measures needed to prevent desk B: Well sir, our sales have dropped, no plunged, fifty percent restrictions has been the lack of rainfall this year, these five dams desklamic Revolutionary the fire from reigniting is being taken to ensure in the past month alone. We are currently overstocked and imposed on Tehran this summer thanks also faced water shortages. Guard Corps Aerospace Force (IRGC AF) the complete fire extinguishment, he concluded. overstaffed and our profits are falling fast. The market is in to the increase in spring rainfalls, head of Pointing to the fact that Iran is among has managed to extinguish wildfire haunt- Kiamars Hajizadeh, director general recession and we have no way of moving our inventory, or Tehran Province Water and Wastewater the countries which consume the highest ing Hour al-Azim wetland for about three of disaster management department of getting rid of our staff. If we consider redundancies, it Company has said. amount of water, he noted that water costs weeks, said the commander of IRGC AF. Khuzestan province has also said that over would cost us a fortune because of the new regulations governing After Sistan-Baluchestan province, Teh- 25,000 rials (nearly $0.59) per cubic meter, Hour al-Azim, a transboundary body of the past 6 days the fire was contained by compensation packages. It’s a real mess. ran is the second worst province in water and citizens only pay a quarter of the price. water shared between Iran and Iraq, has using helicopters for aerial firefighting. A: For crying out loud... How fast are we losing money? shortage and is in an unfavorable situation Earlier this month Tehran’s governor been hit by wildfire originated mainly in “Fire in some 95 percent of the canebrakes B: Um...how can I put this? Let’s just say that at this pace, we due to the tremendous loss of per capita general Mohammad Hossein Moqimi said the Iraqi part of the wetland since July 2. is now extinguished,” Mehr news agency will be filing forChapter eleven in less than three months. renewable water regarding its population, that currently, every household in Tehran IRGC AF dispatched two helicopters to qouted Hajizadeh as saying on Wednesday. A: What! Geez! How could this have happened? So what’s Mohammadreza Bakhtiari said, Mehr re- consumes about 250 liters of water per day, put out the fire in Hour al-Azim on July However, due to the high temperatures the bad news? ported on Tuesday. which is twice above the international average. 18, IRIB quoted Shamsoddin Farzadipoor there is still a chance for fire to erupt in the B: Oh, that’s the really bad news. Our supplier suffered QC problems The average annual precipitation in Iran Sadeq Ziaeian director for drought and as saying on Tuesday. Iraqi part of the wetland again. and, well, half of our production is faulty. We’re going to have reaches 251 cubic meters, which is below crisis management department at Iran’s The fire raging Hour al-Azim wetland The wildfire belching out choking smoke to recall all items sold in the last quarter. And the worst part? the international average, he added. Meteorological Organization said in early has been extinguished completely, despite involved many cities of Iran, including Ah- We’re going to have to shoulder this cost. According to Science Matters web- June that over the past 3 months, Iran got its wide extent, he added. vaz, Howeyzeh, Mahshahr, Susangerd, A: Are you joking? Get the supplier on the line now! They have site given the Earth’s surface area, the some 70 millimeters of spring rain, which He also stated that by making arrange- Bostan and even Shadegan in the province. to assume the costs of this mess! global average annual precipitation is compared to the 55- millimeter long-term ments with Iraqi armed forces, the necessary Banks and offices were closed down and B: We tried that, sir. The factory has gone under and the owner 990 millimeters. average precipitation level in springs has permits have been issued on July 19, and some were forced to leave the city to escape apparently has fled the country. He also stated that despite the fact that seen a 27 percent increase, ISNA reported. IRGC AF forces using satellite imagery have the choking smoke. Earlier this week, deputy A: We’re doomed! Iran is among the countries with the lowest In a 9-month period (September 23, taken many operations to combat the wildfire. director for department of environment at B: There is some really good news though! precipitation level in the world, it holds a 2017- June 21, 2018), Tehran is short of Given the harmful effects smoke rising Khuzestan province Adel Mola said that wild- A: Really? What! high position for high water consumption rain by 11 percent compared to the long- from the fire had on southwestern Iran’s fire also poses serious threats to the region’s B: I got offered a new job! rate, which means Iran consumes water term average amount of 220 millimeters, residents, all the capacities have been biodiversity, as the Euphrates softshell turtle Key vocabulary more than water-rich countries. and in comparison to last year the city is used to take measures to put out the fire specie in Hour al-Azim wetland, which is on gory details: all the small details Tehran’s drinking water is supplied from facing lack of rain by 22 percent, Ziaeian to prevent the threats posing to the people the verge of extinction, has been severely disastrous: very bad; having bad results , Taleqan, Lar, Latian and Mamloo explained. and environment, he further explained. endangered, Mehr reported. lay it on me: tell me the bad news in terms of: regarding, about plunge: drop down suddenly and quickly overstocked: having too many things to sell ENGLISH IN USE overstaffed: have too many employees inventory: the amount of products you have to sell LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION get rid of: remove or take away something annoying redundancies: layoffs; ending employment of staff for money reasons Drought threatens wildlife in خشکسالی حیات وحش مناطق مرکزی کشور ا تهدید ر میکند govern: rule for crying out loud: used to express anger or annoyance central Iran حمیــد ظهرابــی در گفتوگــو بــا ایســنا بــا اشــاره بــه تاثیــر خشکســالی بــر تلفــات chapter eleven: bankruptcy; owing more money than you can pay Over the past few years, the number of wildlife species has declined shoulder the cost: to be responsible for the cost due to the drought in central areas of Iran, Hamid Zohrabi, deputy حیــات وحــش اظهارکــرد: در طــول چنــد ســال گذشــته در برخــی مناطــق کشــور از .Supplementary vocabulary environment chief for natural environment has said جملــه سـ ـیاهکوه یــزد و پــارک ملــی کویــر شــاهد تنــزل جمعیــت حیــات وحــش در اثــر broke: having no money The decline is obvious in some parts including Siahkooh in Yazd province خشکســالی بودیــم. hit rock bottom: the lowest possible level or absolute bottom and Kavir National Park in Semnan province, ISNA quoted Zohrabi وی در مــورد احتمــال تلفــات حیــات وحــش بــر اثــر کمآبــی در تابســتان ســال جــاری .margin: the minimum return below which an enterprise becomes as saying on Wednesday unprofitable Fortunately, this year, the spring rainfalls increased, and to some گفــت: امســال خوشــبختانه بارشهــای بهــاره بــه شــکلی بــود کــه تــا حــدی نگرانــی مــا revenue: the entire amount of income before any deductions extent, reduced our concerns about the forage and water resources را در تامیــن علوفــه و منابــع آبــی مــورد نیــاز حیــات وحــش رفــع کــرد. .are made required for the wildlife, he stated

PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM Without water, “-ization, -isation” Hunt somebody/something out Cap in hand

everything Meaning: process or result Meaning: to search for someone or something in Explanation: to ask for something in a very respectful For example: Which is ultimately better, good order to catch, kill, or destroy them manner withers characterization, or a good plot? For example: The plane was on a mission to hunt For example: They went to the teacher, cap in hand, out enemy submarines. and asked for more time to complete their project. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JULY 26, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Ansarullah targets Saudi warship Muslim employees off Yemen’s western coast at Halliburton called 1 Yemeni forces regularly target guage al-Masirah television network that ‘terrorists’: lawsuit positions inside Saudi regime and fire rock- Yemeni forces and their allies fatally shot ets at the coalition’s warships in retaliatory four Saudi mercenaries in an area west of the Two Muslim men were subjected to racist and anti-Muslim har- attacks against the Riyadh-led military op- al-Durayhimi district in Hudaydah province assment while working at the American multinational energy eration on Yemen. on Tuesday. corporation Halliburton in the United States state of Texas, ac- According to a military source, the warship Three other Saudi regime-sponsored mi- cording to a federal lawsuit. was targeted with an unspecified weapon litiamen were killed when Yemeni troops Filed earlier this month by the U.S. Equal Employment Op- on Sunday night. and Popular Committees fighters targeted portunity Commission (EEOC), the lawsuit claims that Hassan Last month, the Yemeni navy said it had them in the mountainous Jabal al-Doud Snoubar and Mir Ali were taunted and harassed by supervisors managed to target a warship belonging to area of Jizan. and fellow employees. the Saudi regime-led coalition off the coast Also on Tuesday, a civilian lost his life In response to Al Jazeera’s request for a comment, William of Mukha port city in Ta’izz Province. and two women sustained injuries when Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for Halliburton, said the corporation According to a military source, the warship Saudi regime mercenaries lobbed a mortar does not comment on pending litigation. was carrying out hostile acts in the territo- round at a bridge south of the Hays district “Halliburton is committed to fostering a diverse and inclu- rial waters of Yemen when it was targeted. of Hudaydah. sive work environment for our more than 55,000 employees Saudi attacks on Yemeni water Separately, four Hadi loyalists were killed that represent 140 nationalities in approximately 80 countries,” systems increase disease risk: UNICEF and six people, including a woman, injured Fitzgerald said by email. Meantime, the United Nations Interna- when a powerful explosion ripped through Joel Clark, the senior trial lawyer on the three-person EEOC tional Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Enma neighborhood in the southern Yemeni team, described the case as “very important”. has condemned recent airstrikes conducted city of Aden. “We allege that Halliburton subjected Snoubar (Syrian) and by the Saudi regime-led coalition on Yemen’s The House of Saudi regime and its allies Ali (Indian) to discrimination based on their national origin and water systems, warning that the destruc- attacks on the country’s civilian infrastruc- land in Jizan.” launched the war in March 2015 in support religion, Muslim,” he told Al Jazeera by email. tion of the infrastructure could endanger ture, including water systems and facilities, Meanwhile, the ICRC confirmed the of Yemen’s former Riyadh-friendly govern- “The EEOC will prosecute these kinds of cases to prevent more lives. schools, hospitals and clinics. plane’s “unscheduled stop” in Jizan, adding ment and against the Ansarullah movement discrimination from happening in the workplace and to vindicate In a statement released on Tuesday, Geert “Attacks on civilian infrastructure in- it was “due to technical issues.” fighters. the rights of those affected by discrimination.” Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director in cluding water systems are a violation of “The issue was resolved and the plane The military campaign has killed and Abruptly terminated the Middle East and North Africa, said the international humanitarian law,” he noted. has landed in Djibouti this evening,” the injured tens of thousands of civilians. According to the lawsuit, co-workers accused Snoubar, who water facility in the northwestern Sa’ada Red Cross plane forced to humanitarian institution said in a state- Several Western countries, the United is of Syrian descent, of being linked to the Islamic State in Iraq Province had come under attack three times land in Jizan ment. States and Britain in particular, have been and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist and called him a “terrorist” in recent days. Separately on Tuesday, the coalition said Saudi Arabia has imposed a blockade supplying the Saudi regime with advanced and “camel jockey”. Now, he said, over half of Sa’ada’s water it had forced a plane with the International on Yemen, which has smothered human- weapons and military equipment. Snoubar began working as an operator assistant at Hallibur- system has been damaged and drinking water Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to land itarian deliveries of food and medicine to ton’s facility in Kilgore, Texas in August 2012. cut off to 10,500 Yemenis. in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern city of Jizan the import-dependent country. The United Nations says a record 22.2 The lawsuit adds that Ali, who is of Indian ancestry, was also “UNICEF deplores in the strongest terms after intercepting it over Yemen. Yemeni snipers shoot dead 7 Sau- million Yemenis are in need of food aid, called a “terrorist”, and that a supervisor regularly mocked him yet another attack on vital and lifesaving The plane, which was heading to Djibou- di mercenaries in Hudaydah, Jizan including 8.4 million threatened by severe about having a “magic carpet”. water systems in Yemen,” Cappelaere said. ti, had changed its course after taking off Elsewhere, at least seven Saudi re- hunger. “Snoubar’s and Ali’s co-workers regularly broadcast derogatory “Continuous attacks on water systems in from Sana’a, the Saudi-led coalition said in gime-backed militiamen loyal to resigned A high-ranking UN aid official has warned name calling over radio headsets to other workers,” the lawsuit Yemen are cutting off children and their a statement published by the official Saudi president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi have against the “catastrophic” living conditions states, adding that supervisors and other employees mocked families from water; increasing the likeli- Press Agency (SPA). been killed when Yemeni army soldiers and in Yemen, stating that there was a growing their “cultural attire” and claimed that “their ‘people’ engaged hood of water-borne diseases spreading in “Coalition forces communicated with fighters from allied Popular Committees risk of famine and cholera there. in bestiality”. the war-torn country.” the aircraft on the international distress launched separate attacks in Yemen’s stra- “The conflict has escalated since Novem- The filing explains that Snoubar lodged a complaint with the He also warned that “more lives - among frequency... but the crew did not respond,” tegic western coastal province of Hudaydah ber, driving an estimated 100,000 people human resources department in September 2015 over the alleged them many children - will be lost” if the aerial coalition spokesman Colonel Turki Al-Ma- and Saudi Arabia’s southwestern border from their homes,” John Ging, UN director of harassment and concerns for his personal safety. assaults on Yemen’s basic services continue. liki said. “Commands were given to redirect region of Jizan. aid operations, told the UN Security Council Although Halliburton initially suggested that Snoubar could The UNICEF official further called on the aircraft away from the operations zone An unnamed military source, speaking on February 27. transfer to another facility, according to the filing, he was “abruptly the parties to the Yemen conflict to stop all but to no avail. The aircraft was forced to on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-lan- (Source: Press TV) terminated” before “having a reasonable opportunity to consider” the offer. Snoubar and Ali are no longer employed by Halliburton. The lawsuit seeks punitive financial damages and compen- sation for “humiliation, emotional pain and suffering, stress, inconvenience and loss of enjoyment of life”. Inhumane austerity measures in UK made millions poor: expert It also requests a permanent injunction barring Halliburton from “Britain has a remarkably high level of poverty ... 14 mil- disabled “are suffering on an immense scale”. discrimination based on national origin, religion and retaliation. lion people are living in poverty and four million children He said the government has continued to spend lavishly The lawsuit is the latest in a long string of cases alleging dis- are below the bread line,” said Marcus Papadopoulos, a on the military and international conflicts over the past crimination against the U.S. Muslims in the workplace. British publisher and editor at the Politics First website years despite the austerity. According to the 2017 “Civil Rights Report”, published by the on Wednesday. “The British government finds vast amounts of money to Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), employment The expert told Press TV that such high levels of poverty support terrorists like the White Helmets in Syria, it has hun- discrimination is persistent for American Muslims. created an “absolutely intolerable situation” in Britain given dreds of millions if billions to maintain its nuclear deterrent “From 2014 to 2016,” according to the report, “employment the country’s huge wealth. program, the Trident, and it finds tens of millions of pounds for discrimination has consistently remained in the top three types Papadopoulos said much of the poverty in British society the royal wedding,” said the expert, calling poverty in Britain of anti-Muslim bias incidents.” was related to the “brutal and inhuman austerity meas- “a national disgrace” which the Brits remained unaware of CAIR documented 312 anti-Muslim bias incidents in work- ures” introduced in 2010 by the coalition government of due to the lack of truly independent media. places in 2014, 230 in 2015 and 281 in 2016. the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. A report released Tuesday by the Resolution Foundation, In 2015, the EEOC v Abercrombie and Fitch case went to the He said despite the fact that everyone agreed at the time a British think tank, showed that incomes of the poorest U.S. Supreme Court, which said that employers are forbidden that spending cuts were needed, the coalition government households in the United Kingdom slumped again last from rejecting applicants if the decision is based on a desire to and 2007, just before the financial crisis. implemented them “savagely.” year. The report said there are over eight million low and avoid accommodating to a religious practice. It said for the poorest third of households, incomes have “Everyone accepted the cuts at the time but what the two middle-income households in Britain, just under half of That case stemmed from Abercrombie and Fitch’s refusal to actually fallen by up to £150 in the last year, increasing parties introduced was blanket cuts,” said Papadopoulos, which have children. hire Samantha Elauf, who was a teenager at the time, because her fears for many parents who have responsibilities including adding that the Conservatives have kept in place those cuts The report added that the average incomes for all house- hijab did not comply with the clothing company’s “look policy”, buying food for their children and paying the rent. over the past years, creating a situation in which the most holds in 2017/18 increased by just 0.9%, the lowest rise which prohibited the wearing of head coverings at work. (Source: Press TV) vulnerable people, including the poor, the elderly and the for four years and less than half the average between 1994 According to a July 2017 poll by the Pew Research Center based on interviews with 1,001 Muslim respondents, 75 percent believed there was “a lot of discrimination” against the religious minority in the U.S. Child abuse reports in U.S. surge after high-profile tragedies The poll also found that 62 percent of respondents felt that Reports of child abuse in the United States by 20 percent, from 19,980 in fiscal 2016 to foster care placement actually going down that results in foster care placement have Americans did not view Islam as part of the U.S. society, and that have increased following the tragic deaths of 23,981 in fiscal 2017, although the number in 2017. declined over the years, while the share 60 percent considered American media coverage of Muslims 6-year-old Zymere Perkins and 3-year-old of cases increased by only 7 percent. Instead the judges found ways in which of petitions that results in court-ordered “unfair”. Jaden Jordan in late 2016, a report says. Spending at the Administration for Chil- one parent often cared for the child or chil- supervision have remained relatively con- Following the November 2016 election of the U.S. President The Independent Budget Office (IBO) said dren’s Services (ACS) also soared to $127.8 dren, under what is known as court-ordered stant. This implies that Family Court judges Donald Trump, rights groups observed a sharp uptick in hate on Tuesday that reports of investigations of million in fiscal 2017 — up from $110.9 million supervision, according to the IBO. have not changed how they handle abuse crimes, including those targeting Muslims. child abuse, and Family Court hearings have a year before — an increase of 15 percent “As has happened after prior deaths of and maltreatment petitions in response to also gone up after the two widely-publicized that largely went to the salaries and OT of children known to ACS, Zymere Perkins’ the public pressure that follows high-pro- According to a separate CAIR report, the number of hate abuse cases. agency investigators. and Jaden Jordan’s deaths in September file deaths of children known to the child crimes against Muslims grew by 15 percent in 2017, reaching a Perkins was bludgeoned to death with a ACS staffers also lodged thousands more and December of 2016 led to more abuse welfare system.” total of 300 incidents. broomstick allegedly by his mom’s boyfriend petitions of abuse and maltreatment in Family and maltreatment investigations, in part A similar report released in February (Source: Al Jazeera) on Sept. 26 and Jordan died on Dec. 4, 2016 Court — 14,207 in 2017 in comparison with because of a spike in reports from man- showed a sharp rise in child abuse fatalities from injuries he allegedly suffered at the 9,566, a rise of 52 percent. dated reporters. Their reports are also in the U.S., with the bulk of the increase hands of his mother’s abusive boyfriend However, the IBO found that the courts more likely to be substantiated,” the report occurring in two states — Indiana and Texas Trump calls for EU to drop days after he had been beaten into a coma did not respond to the public scrutiny through concluded. — where child-welfare agencies had been all trade barriers ahead of and left with a fractured skull. separating children from their families more “It is also important to stress that the in disarray. The number of child abuse reports rose often, with the share of petitions leading to share of abuse or maltreatment petitions (Source: agencies) official’s visit

The United States President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that the U.S. and European Union “drop all Tariffs, Barriers and Subsidies” after his administration imposed tariffs on EU imports. Bin Salman fears provoking Saudi capital flight: FT “That would finally be called Free Market and Fair Trade! A new report shows wealthy Saudis are reluctant to make been further compounded following the exit of 700,000 Hope they do it, we are ready - but they won’t!” Trump tweeted. internal investments over fears that they may be targeted foreign workers from the regime due to taxes introduced The European Union is coming to Washington tomorrow to and robbed of their assets by the security apparatus of by the Crown Prince. negotiate a deal on Trade. I have an idea for them. Both the U.S. the House of Saud regime Crown Prince Mohammad bin A new research shows that an unprecedented exodus and the EU drop all Tariffs, Barriers and Subsidies! That would Salman (MBS) – as happened to many others last year. of foreign workers is hurting the Saudi regime economy finally be called Free Market and Fair Trade! Hope they do it, we The Financial Times in a report quoted bankers as saying and this has already become a source of criticisms against a are ready - but they won’t! tweeted Trump. The president sent that private Saudi private businesses had already resorted controversial domestic labor empowering initiative devised the tweet a day before European Commission President Jean- to sitting on their cash, while some are looking for ways to by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Claude Juncker is set to meet with Trump at the White House. shift funds offshore, instead of investing in the country. A Saudi banker said the grim sentiment was affecting Trump slapped steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports The lack of appetite for investing in the kingdom, added the property market, with wealthy families looking to from several U.S. allies earlier this year, including the EU. The Financial Times, risked undermining Bin Salman’s sell palaces. He also said that it would take time for the The EU retaliated by implementing tariffs on several Amer- efforts to overhaul the oil-dependent economy and create sentiments to improve and that one of two things needed ican products, including motorcycles, blue jeans and whiskey. 1.2 million private sector jobs for Saudis by 2020. to happen: “either these reforms have to take hold and Trump has also threatened to impose a 20 percent tariff on The bankers said that a combination of factors was be- things go very well or the oil price shoots back up again.” all European automobile imports, which the European Com- hind the subdued mood of Saudi investors ranging from The Independent in a report quoted informed sources mission has warned would “be harmful first and foremost for the increased costs of employing foreigners, who account The bankers revealed that they have to apply for sti- as saying that Saudi Arabia is struggling to sell the extra the U.S. economy.” for more than 80 percent of the private sector workforce, to pends from frozen bank accounts while some are blocked oil it has started to produce under pressure by the admin- The president called the EU “a foe” over its trade policies during concerns that Bin Salman could launch another sweeping from exchanging riyals for other currencies; in effect istration of the U.S. President Donald Trump. an interview earlier this month and Trump praised tariffs in a “anti-corruption” crackdown. ensuring their wealth remains within Saudi borders, While it’s too early to say if Bin Salman’s reforms tweet early on Tuesday, declaring that “tariffs are the greatest!” The purge, which saw 300 Saudi royals and businessman added the report. are working, increasing the price of oil seems to be a Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the detained, hangs like a dark cloud over the head of many Bin Salman is also blamed for scaring off foreign inves- non-starter in light of President Donald Trump’s insist- United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets families who are still under investigation. tors. According to the United Nations data released last ence that the Kingdom keep oil price low by increasing hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that - and everybody’s talking! Saudi regime authorities are reportedly pressuring a month, foreign direct investment plummeted from $7.45 oil production to cover for the shortfall left by Iran, Remember, we are the “piggy bank” that’s being robbed. All will billionaire prince whom they have detained as part of a purge billion in 2016 to $1.42 billion last year, The Financial wrote The Financial Times. be Great! Said Trump. to pay up a whopping USD six billion to secure his release. Times added. The strain on the economy looks to have (Source: Press TV) (Source: The Hill) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS JULY 26, 2018 AC Milan keen to land Conte - and they’re Serena Williams says she is being ‘discriminated’ against stepping up bid to bring in Arsenal chief! over doping tests AC Milan are keen to replace Gennaro Gattuso with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in a major overhaul this summer. Serena Williams says she is a victim of “discrimination” as she The San Siro outfit are under new ownership and have is the most drug tested American tennis player. already sacked two of their biggest names behind the scenes The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made the claim in in a huge summer shake-up. a tweet on Tuesday, after doping officials visited her. Sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli and chief exec- The American had previously expressed frustration about utive Marco Fassone were dismissed this week, and it now the volume of her tests earlier this month. appears Gattuso could be the next to leave. “Out of all the players it’s been proven I’m the one getting Conte is out of work following his departure from Stam- tested the most. Discrimination? I think so,” said the 36-year-old. ford Bridge this month, and would be an obvious choice An article published by website Deadspin in June revealed given his previous time in Serie A with Juventus and others. that Williams had been tested out of competition by the US An- AC Milan came sixth last season and appear to be tak- ti-Doping Agency (Usada) on five occasions in 2018. ing no prisoners in their battle to return to the top table of It also claimed the player was not present when Usada officials Italian football. One other potential arrival this summer visited her home on 14 June - Williams stated that the tester is Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who is wanted to showed up 12 hours earlier than the agreed time. replace Fassone at the San Siro. It was eventually marked as a “missed test” - three of those The exits of sporting director Mirabelli and Fassone have would result in a Usada doping violation. created a gap in the club’s hierarchy, and Sportsmail under- At the time of publication of the Deadspin article, Williams stands Gazidis is the man they want to replace the latter. had been tested more than twice as many times as other top Arsenal were quick to deny that their chief executive American players - male or female - including US Open champion is set for a move away, though. Milan are keen to poach Sloane Stephens (one) and sister and multiple Grand Slam winner Gazidis, who has overseen the restructuring of Arsenal in Venus Williams (two). Williams was asked about the findings of recent times, including the appointment of Emery to replace the report during Wimbledon earlier this summer. Arsene Wenger, as well as the head of football relations Raul “I never knew that I was tested so much more than everyone Sanllehi, head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and head of else,” said the seven-time champion, who lost to German An- high performance Darren Burgess. gelique Kerber in the final. Having won a long-standing power battle against Wenger, “Until I read that article I didn’t realise it was such a discrep- it would certainly be strange timing for Gazidis to leave now, ancy with me as well as against the other players that they listed, particularly as he is taking centre stage in Arsenal’s new era. a club barbecue, has also pleased Emery by making swift Former manager Leonardo has already been lined up to at least the American players - both male and female.” Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick said: ‘We are aware signings in the transfer market. replace Mirabelli at AC Milan, according to reports, and he BBC Sport has contacted Usada for a response to Williams’ of the speculation. We know he receives many offers from Emery is hopeful that Gazidis will remain at the club, with is expected to arrive in the coming days. tweet. organisations inside and outside the game as he’s a hugely the chief executive often present to view training sessions All this has come about following the arrival of Elliott (Source: BBC) respected figure. He has never accepted these opportuni- and a close confidant of the new coach. Management, who took over from the beleaguered Li Yon- ties. He has always been fully committed to taking Arsenal Emery said: ‘I speak every day with him. He has been ghong this summer. forward and is working hard in Singapore with Unai Emery committed here for many, many years. I think he continues Paolo Scaroni was appointed as executive chairman in one as we prepare for the season.’ here because it is a big project here and his commitment to of the first behind-the-scenes changes, but it now appears Gazidis boosted his popularity among players on Monday Arsenal is very strong. We are speaking about every decision certain that plenty more will follow. Ferrari in mourning after by making a passionate speech in support of Mesut Ozil at for our club.’ (Source: Daily Mail) former chairman Sergio Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho avoids Ozil looks forward to friendlies, Marchionne dies Premier League title question avoids retirement talk

The former chairman of Ferrari, Sergio Marchionne, has died in Zurich at the age of 66 following complications in shoulder surgery. Entering hospital for the operation only a few weeks ago, the manufacturer confirmed that his condition had deteriorated amid reports of an embolism placing him in a coma, with new figures brought to head the various sectors Marchionne was in charge of. Italian newspaper La Repubblica detailed how an attempt to bring the Italian out of his coma resulted in him showing no sign of being able to breathe unaided. On Wednesday, new Fiat Chrysler chairman, John Elkann, released a statement to confirm Marchionne’s passing. “Unfortunately, what we feared has come to pass. Sergio Marchionne, man and friend, is gone,” it read. “I believe that the best way to honour his memory is to Jose Mourinho refused to say whether he squad, who are on a break following the Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil avoided any talk of ing Turkish President Recep Tayyip build on the legacy he left us, continuing to develop the human thinks his Manchester United squad are World Cup. the controversy surrounding his retire- Erdogan in May, where the pair were values of responsibility and openness of which he was the most strong enough to compete for the Premier The Red Devils had 12 players compet- ment from international football as the photographed holding up an Arsenal ardent champion. “My family and I will be forever grateful League title next season. ing at the tournament, with eight featuring German midfielder opted to focus on the shirt, and he has yet to comment on for what he has done. Our thoughts are with Manuela, and United have brought in three players for in the semi-finals. Tottenham also had club’s pre-season friendly tournament in his retirement since he announced it his sons Alessio and Tyler.” about £68m this summer, and the 55-year- 12 players in Russia while Manchester Singapore on Wednesday. through social media. Born in the Italian town of Chieti in 1952, the charismatic old told ESPN he would like to sign “two City had 16. The 29-year-old quit the national side on Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson and mid- Marchionne was educated in Canada and moved through the more players”. “I don’t have the majority of the players Sunday citing “racism and disrespect” due fielder Alex Iwobi sat alongside Ozil at the world of legal matters and accounting before joining Fiat in Asked at a news conference if he was that are going to be in the squad on 9 August to his Turkish roots as key to the decision fan event in Singapore with the former 2003, becoming CEO a year later. confident of challenging, Mourinho said: when the market [transfer window] closes after he was singled out for criticism when admitting new coach Unai Emery had been While also the boss of Fiat Chrysler, the Italian enjoyed a “I don’t answer your question.” and we can make it official for the season. Germany bombed out of the recent World very active in his first few training sessions hands-on running of the Ferrari Formula 1 team after enter- The Portuguese stayed silent when So of course I’m not happy, to have just a Cup in the group stages. with the club. ing the Scuderia in 2014 and was behind the introduction of pressed to explain why. few players,” he added. Making his first public appearance “Training has been good and Emery has Alfa Romeo’s marque to the Sauber team after over 30 years United were runners-up to Manchester Ex-United midfielder Paul Scholes since his retirement statement triggered been a major influence to what we are doing out of the sport. City last season, finishing 19 points behind believes his former side face a tough a bad-tempered debate in Germany about on the training ground,” the 18-year-old With Elkann taking charge of Fiat Chrysler as Marchionne’s the champions, and lost to Chelsea in the task to win their 21st top-flight crown relations with its largest immigrant com- England youth international said. successor in the chairman role, Louis Camilleri was recently FA Cup final. and that Mourinho is not in the right munity, Ozil was all smiles at a fan event “He’s looking to bring through the young named as Ferrari CEO. The £47m spent on midfielder Fred has frame of mind. in Singapore. players as well... pushing them, so they (Source: Marca) been their biggest outlay of the summer. “Every year when United don’t win “It’s very exciting to be in Singapore. It’s will have a feeling they can shine under The club have also been linked with something, it’s a disaster,” the 43-year-old, our second time here and we really enjoy the new coach.” Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Willian, who won 11 league titles at Old Trafford, coming,” he told a gathering of Arsenal fans Spaniard Emery, who has also managed Eintracht Frankfurt’s Croatia winger Ante told Bein Sports. a day ahead of a friendly against Atletico Valencia, Sevilla and Paris St Germain, was Rebic and Tottenham’s Belgian defender “He’s obviously got to try to win the Madrid at the National Stadium. They also brought in to replace Arsene Wenger after Cavani emerges as potential Toby Alderweireld. league, but there’s so many good teams play Paris St Germain on Sunday. the Frenchman ended his almost 22-year Mourinho was speaking to the media now, it’s going to be difficult. “We are expecting good matches against tenure at the helm of the North London Real Madrid signing to replace in Los Angeles before his side’s pre-season “I think he’s got every resource available Paris St Germain and Atletico Madrid. They club at the conclusion of last season. friendly against AC Milan on Thursday. to him to have a team to win the league. are great teams with great players, it’s a Arsenal open the new Premier League Ronaldo’s goals The United boss said he was not fully That’s what the fans expect and what I’m test for us to get ready for the new season, campaign with a home fixture against satisfied on the USA tour because he was sure his bosses above him expect.” so it’s something to look forward to.” champions Manchester City on Aug. 12. without several members of his first-team (Source: BBC) Ozil was also criticised for meet- (Source: Reuters) Edinson Cavani, who scored 40 goals in 48 games last season for PSG and 49 in 50 in the season before, has emerged as a candidate to replace Cristiano Ronaldo’s ferocious strike-rateat the club after he left for Juventus. Roma gazumped as Malcom joins Barcelona It might be an open goal for Real Madrid too as the Uruguayan is receptive to the move. A move to the Bernabeu is a dream not yet realised by Cavani and he would be willing to sign a two or three-year deal in order to finish his career playing in from Bordeaux Spain’s capital. Leading Italian club AS Roma says it’s considering legal Alisson transfer A fan favourite at PSG, Cavani is also one of Nasser Al options after being gazumped in trying to sign Brazilian Malcom scored 12 goals and registered eight assists Khelaifi’s most trust men due to his professionalism and ef- forward Malcom, who has joined Barcelona from Bordeaux in 38 appearances for Bordeaux in Ligue 1 last season ficiency. For that reason, Cavani would never start trouble in a reported $49 million transfer. — the French club thanking him for his “hard work and in order to manufacture a move out of the Parc de Princes. According to Roma sporting director Monchi, the Serie commitment” and wishing him “all the best for this new This could also work to Real Madrid’s advantage, however, A club had been negotiating with Bordeaux for a week and adventure.” provided Cavani presents the offer and tells Al Khelaifi he had reached an agreement for the 21-year-old’s transfer “I hope to bring a lot of joy to the fans,” Malcolm said wants to take advantage. to the Italian team. in quotes carried by the Barcelona club website. “I can’t Taking Neymar or Mbappé from PSG seems impossible. “I am very sorry for what has happened, but I believe that wait to get started. I’m here to help my teammates with They have both only been at the club for a year and are at we had a complete agreement with Bordeaux -- and then my style.” the heart of their plans. Cavani is a different proposition. It offered even more than that to get it done again,” Monchi It’s been a testing transfer window for Roma and Monchi. could also resolve a longstanding conflict between Cavani and told the Roma website. Earlier this month Roma sold Brazil international Alisson Neymar, sparked when Neymar took a penalty off the striker “President [James] Pallotta made the decision to make to Liverpool in an $84 million transfer -- a world record having only just arrived in Paris. It enraged some fans, who the best offer possible, but when the negotiation became deal for a goalkeeper. backed Cavani. an auction we decided to withdraw from it. “The job of a sporting director is not just to make signings Cavani has a contract in place until 2020 and he just renewed “If someone wants to come to Roma that is great, but but also to understand what’s best for the club at any given it last season. At 31, PSG would be willing to let him go for a ultimately if they do not want to come to Rome then we do time,” said Monchi as he reflected on Alisson’s transfer. fee less than €100 million and this would also alleviate FFP not want them. “Economic factors are important for the club too, not issues PSG might face. “Now, within the club, we are looking at our op- just sporting factors. The only issue for Real Madrid is that of Cavani’s salary. tions and seeing if we have a legal case. It is true that Neither Barcelona or Bordeaux has publicly spoken “We weighed up the pros and cons and decided to speak He would demand €12 million net per season with another nothing was signed, but there are many messages with about the negotiations surrounding Malcom’s transfer to Liverpool in order to come to an agreement. Does it show €2 million in easily-acquired variables. the agents and their president that are at least worth and neither club immediately responded to CNN Sport’s a lack of ambition? Not for me.” (Source: AS) being assessed.” request for comment (Source: CNN) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JULY 26, 2018 SPORTS 15

West Brom eye Iran’s Additional challenge for Korea Republic, Indonesia

Kuala Lumpur: Asian Games men’s football defending champions Milad Mohammadi: Report Korea Republic will play in the five-team Group E for the 2018 edition, following the re-draw to include Palestine and United SPORTS TEHRAN — West Bromwich Arab Emirates at the AFC House on Wednesday. deskAlbion are going to sign Akhmat The Taeguk Warriors, led by Son Heung-min, will defend Grozny’s Milad Mohammadi after they failed to pen their title against Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Bahrain and the a contract with Luton Town defender Jack Stacey. United Arab Emirates. The Baggies haven’t gone gung-ho in the transfer Similarly in Group A, hosts Indonesia drew Hong Kong, Laos, market this summer, as they have brought in a solid Chinese Taipei and Palestine. center back in Kyle Bartley, winger Harvey Barnes The U-23 tournament, which allows each country to field three and two goalkeepers in Sam Johnstone and Jonathan overage players, will see 26 teams vying for honours. Bond, Daily Mail reported. Group B has Thailand, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh and Qatar, Fans are expecting more signings before the while Group C will see 2014 bronze medallists Iraq, China PR, transfer deadline, especially with James McClean Timor-Leste and Syria. gone and the likes of Craig Dawson and Salomon Japan were the seeded team in Group D and they were drawn Rondon expected to go, and it seems that defensive with Vietnam, Pakistan and Nepal. reinforcements are wanted. DPR Korea, the 2014 silver medallists, will face Saudi Arabia, West Brom have submitted one approach for Islamic Republic of Iran and Myanmar in Group F. Luton Town defender Jack Stacey, but their move The top two teams in each group along with the four best third has been snubbed, whilst Milad Mohammadi is a placed teams will advance to the Round of 16. target at left back. Men’s football will be contested on August 14 to September Stacey, 22, came up through the ranks with 1 in Jakarta and Palembang. Reading but made just six appearances for the (Source: the-afc) Royals before heading to Luton on a permanent basis in 2017, following loan spells with Barnet, Carlisle United and Exeter City. A right back who can also play in midfield, Stacey FFIRI demands Adidas was a key part of the Luton side which won pro- motion to League One last season, and it remains apology over excluding Iran to be seen whether West Brom continue to push from its website to bring him to the second tier. Meanwhile, Akhmat Grozny ace Milad Moham- madi is thought to be a target at left back, with boss The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) Darren Moore potentially looking for competition has demanded a formal apology from German sportswear man- for first-choice left back Kieran Gibbs. ufacturer Adidas over its decision to exclude Iran’s name from Mohammadi, 24, is a pacey, attack-minded left the list of countries with access to its services. back who has also been linked with Celtic and Rangers In a letter addressed to head of the Federation’s Marketing – and the Baggies may hope to secure his signature Committee Hedayat Mombini on Monday, FFIRI President Mehdi before the transfer deadline. Taj wrote, “Given the improper and indecorous step taken by Adidas AG with regards to the sacred name of dear Iran on its website, it is necessary to take prompt punitive measures against such a conduct that violates human rights, sign a contract with an Iran too strong for India in Asian U20 Iran advance to Beach Handball World alternative prior to the start of the Asian Football Confederation Volleyball Championship Championships next stage (AFC) Asian Cup.” The senior Iranian sports official emphasized in the letter that no real or legal entity is entitled to offend the Iranian nation, and while stressing the need for an apology to the Iranian nation from Adidas, added that the FFIRI will stand fast with all its power to defend the dignity of Iran and Iranian people. The letter concluded, “The Adidas move comes despite the fact that the Iran men’s national football team has fully honored its commitments both during the signing ceremony with the company and the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.” Last month, American sportswear manufacturer Nike also abruptly decided to withdraw supply of boots to Iranian foot- ballers ahead of the World Cup. “US sanctions mean that, as a US company, Nike cannot sup- ply shoes to players in the Iranian national team at this time. Sanctions applicable to Nike have been in place for many years and are enforceable by law,” Nike said in a statement published by ESPN sports television network. Nike’s decision came irrespective of the fact that it had been supplying Team Melli previously, including at the 2014 FIFA SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran swept Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball Champion- SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran lost Uruguay and Vietnam. World Cup when similar sanctions were in place. deskpast India in straight ship, a biennial international volleyball deskto reigning champions Iran have been scheduled to play Spain US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that Wash- sets (25–17, 25–14, 25–22) to advance tournament organized by the Asian Vol- Croatia 2-0 (23-22, 22-17) on Wednesday on Thursday. ington was walking away from a nuclear agreement, officially to the 2018 Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball leyball Confederation (AVC) with Bahrain but advanced to the 2018 Beach Handball The top-four finishers in Group I and known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed Championship quarters. Volleyball Association (BVA). World Championships next stage. Group II will then advance to the quar- between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Iran will play the winner of Sri Lanka The tournament is being held in Riffa, The Iranian team had previously lost ter-finals, which are due to take place Council plus Germany in 2015. and Kazakhstan on Thursday. Bahrain, from 21 to 28 July 2018. to Argentina 2-1 (10-13, 12-8, 6-4) and on Saturday (July 28) along with the The US president said that he planned to reinstate US nuclear Behrouz Ataei’s men have already defeat- The top two teams of the tournament defeated Uruguay 2-1 (15-16, 15-14, 6-5) semi-finals. sanctions on Iran and impose “the highest level” of economic ed China and South Korea in group stage. will qualify for the 2019 FIVB Volleyball in Pool A. The six days of competition is being bans on the Islamic Republic. The 2018 Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship as the Team Melli have been grouped in Group held at the Kazan Beach Sports Complex, (Source: Press TV) Championship is the 19th edition of the AVC representatives. I along with Spain, Croatia, Hungary, in Kazan, Russia from July 24 to 29. Everton sign Richarlison Netherlands 2018: Top five moments Albion on track to land Iran winger from Watford

Everton announced the signing of Brazilian forward Richarl- ison from Watford on Tuesday in a deal reported to be worth up to £50 million. Richarlison, 21, moves to Goodison Park on a five-year con- tract and will reunite with manager Marco Silva, who brought him to Premier League while in charge of Watford last summer. Sources told ESPN FC last week that Everton would pay an initial £40m for Richarlison, and the BBC and other outlets re- ported on Tuesday that the deal could reach £50m with add-ons. The full fee would eclipse Everton’s previous transfer record, set when they paid Swansea City a reported £45m for Gylfi Sig- urdsson last summer. Richarlison made an eye-catching start to life in English football last season, scoring five goals in his first 12 Premier League matches. However, after the last of those goals came in a 2-0 win over West Ham United on Nov. 19, he did not score again for the rest The Sitting Volleyball World Champion- and Herzegovina 3-0. ALBION remain on course to make Alireza Albion after extra time off recovering from of the season, while each of his four assists in the Premier League ships left many unforgettable moments Netherlands fail to reach Jahanbakhsh their record signing as they the World Cup, watched yesterday morn- came before Christmas. and some surprising results. semi-finals move towards completing the squad for ing’s 1-1 friendly draw against Portsmouth “I want to have a lot of success with Everton,” Richarlison Paralympic gold medallists Iran con- Debutants Italy enjoyed a dreamed their second season in the Premier League. at the Lancing training complex. told Everton’s website. “I think it is going to be important for firmed their status as the world’s best male run on Dutch soil, even defeating the Work is progressing to complete the Mathew Ryan, Australia’s goalkeeper me here to be with Marco Silva again. I will learn more because I team by reclaiming the title against defend- hosts women’s team 3-2 (25-18, 20-25, capture of the Iranian World Cup winger in Russia, returned to action in the Ports- am still learning as a player and I aim to develop and grow here. ing champions Bosnia and Herzegovina. 25-22, 22-25, 15-11) in arguably the best from AZ Alkmaar. mouth game, while Nigerian World Cup “Everton have put their faith in me and I intend to honour this Russia*, on the other hand, sealed their match of the tournament. They denied Jahanbakhsh, accompanied by his agent central defender Leon Balogun featured shirt and demonstrate on the pitch why I came here. first women’s title after beating Rio 2016 Netherlands the chance to advance into Amir Hashemi, flew into Biggin Hill Air- for the first time in Albion colors in last “I’ve known the manager for a while obviously, so I know champions USA in the final. the last four for the first time ever. port in Kent from Paris afternoon as the night’s 1-1 draw at Charlton as Hughton how he works. I developed really well with him while he was Here are five of the best moments in More expected from Egypt process to secure his signature continues. again split his squad for the two run-outs. with me at Watford. It was really good working with him and the competition. The African champions had the po- The fee will eclipse the £14 million Albion Hughton still wants another central de- one day I believe he can help me to be selected for Brazil in the Russia make history tential to reach the men’s podium after paid Alkmaar’s Dutch rivals PSV Eindhoven fender to accompany Lewis Dunk, Shane full national team. Reigning world champions China and achieving top-finishes at recent Worlds for striker Jurgen Locadia in January, al- Duffy and Balogun. “But that is for the future and my present is here with Everton. Rio 2016 gold medallists USA were the and Paralympics. But they were elimi- though The Argus understands reports of Reading’s Liam Moore and Sheffield I want my dreams to become a reality here at one of the biggest strongest on paper for the women’s com- nated in the quarter-finals and had to a £20 million figure are wide of the mark. United’s Jack O’Connell are the likeliest clubs in England.” petition. But European champions Russia settle for a sixth place following a 3-0 Landing Jahanbakhsh would give man- candidates. Despite the high fee, Silva said Richarlison would still have upset all odds to claim gold following a loss to Russia. ager Chris Hughton a strong hand in wide Signing one of them would also help to compete for his place in the Everton XI. 3-1 victory over USA in the final. Princess Margriet attends areas. The free-scoring 24-year-old, who Albion meet the homegrown requirements. “The competition between our players is really important to Can someone stop Iran? Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet helped Alkmaar to third place in Eredivi- They need eight players fitting the me. This is what will make us better as a club, always that com- With 2.46m tall Morteza Mehrzad- of the Netherlands, who’s an IPC Honorary sie and Europa League qualification with homegrown category in the Premier petition within the squad,” Silva told Everton’s website. selakjani at his best, Iran seem unstop- Board member, paid a surprise visit and joined 21 goals last season, would be competing League squad of 25 and currently have “The player himself is fast, strong, very good technically and pable. The world No.1 team followed up the many orange supporters in the Dutch with Jose Izquierdo, Anthony Knockaert seven, excluding probable leavers Oliver he can play in three positions across the front line. He can also Rio 2016 gold medal with their seventh women’s team 3-0 victory over Rwanda. and Solly March. Norwood and Sam Baldock. score goals.” men’s Worlds title after defeating Bosnia (Source: Paralympic.org) Colombian Izquierdo, now back with (Source: Theargus.co.uk) (Source: ESPN) Prayer Times Noon:13:11 Evening: 20:34 Dawn: 4:29 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:08 (tomorrow) JULY 26, 2018 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Concept designs from Iran shortlisted Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 for Architizer A+Awards Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 ARTTEHRAN – Two concept www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. deskdesigns from Iranian com- Tel: 88911433 panies are among the finalists at the 6th Webmaster: [email protected] Annual Architizer A+Awards in New York. Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 The designs for the Tokyo Music Center No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran from Hajizadeh & Associates and the Sadra P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Artist Forum in Shiraz created by Nextoffice Zip Code: 1599814713 are competing in the Unbuilt Cultural cate- gory. Both companies are located in Tehran. “We decided to imagine a strategy to create an important urban plaza while keeping the music hall,” Hajizadeh & Associates said in an introduction to the design for the Tokyo Music Center published on the Architizer website. “On the other hand, the development of a green space on the northern side of the site will create an attractive atmosphere,” it added. South Korean festival picks Designs for the Museum of Forest Finn Culture in Svullrya, Norway and the UK four films from Iran Holocaust Memorial are also competing in the Unbuilt Cultural section. ARTTEHRAN – A lineup of four Iranian films Over 300 designs from across the world deskhave been selected to go on screen at the are competing in the various categories of 14th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival running the largest awards program for architecture in the South Korean city from August 9 to 14. and products. Winners will be announced on July 30. Sadra Artist Forum, Shiraz

Iranian House of Cinema seeking right Toronto festival to screen Farhadi’s to select Iran’s Oscar submission “Everybody Knows”

A scene from “Butterfly” by Maryam Khalilzadeh Kaveh Moeinfar’s drama “Life without Life” and Ali Zare’s animated film “The Internationale” will be screened in the Cine Symphony section, the organizers have announced. The Cine Symphony section screens musical films, movies of various genres that feature music or musicians, and contemporary drama films, in which music has been used crucially for the development of the drama. Family Fest, a section featuring popular films that possess broad appeal across generations, will also screen the Iranian animated films “Butterfly” by Maryam Khalilzadeh and ARTTEHRAN – The Un- and critics, and added that the fact is A scene from “Everybody Knows” “Instrument” by Abedin Mohammadi. desk The films from Argentina, the UK, France, the U.S., Germany, ion of Iranian Direc- in conflict with the Academy’s rules. ARTTEHRAN – Asghar inaugurated with a screening of the movie. desk Denmark and several other countries will be competing in tors, which is a division of the Iranian Based on the Academy’s rules, the Farhadi’s latest movie However, it failed to win any awards. the event. House of Cinema, has asked the Farabi union said that only directors, actors, “Everybody Knows” is among the notable Films starring Timothee Chalamet and Cinema Foundation to entrust selecting cinematographers, screenwriters, film films selected to go on screen at the 43rd Hugh Jackman as well as Bradley Cooper’s Iran’s Oscar submission to the house editors, composers and sound engineers Toronto International Film Festival running directorial debut, “A Star Is Born”, are among that is also known as the Iranian Alliance are allowed to become members of the from September 6 to 16, the organizers have those on the lineup announced by organizers Iranian troupe to restage of Motion Pictures Guilds. selection board. announced. on Tuesday. The request was made in a letter sent Submissions for the Academy Awards Starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bar- “Beautiful Boy” stars Chalamet and Steve “Misunderstanding” in on Wednesday to Farabi, which has cho- for Best Foreign-Language Film must dem, this layered, psychological drama is Carell and will be one of several films having sen Iran’s submission to the Academy be announced by 5 p.m. on September 1. about a family wedding interrupted by a their world premiere at the festival. original French Awards for Best Foreign-Language Film The 91st Academy Awards ceremony shocking crime and some long-buried secrets. Other world premieres include “The Front ARTTEHRAN – An Iranian troupe led since 1995. will be held on Sunday, February 24, A Memento Films production, “Every- Runner” starring Jackman as former pres- deskby Javad Molania will restage French The union wrote that the Farabi se- 2019. body Knows” was shot in Spain in 2017 and idential candidate Gary Hart, “Life Itself” playwright Albert Camus’ lecting board for choosing Iran’s sub- Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation” and will have its North American premiere at from “This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman, the “The Misunderstanding” (“Le mission to the Oscars over the past 23 “The Salesman” won Iran two Oscars the festival. police shooting drama “The Hate U Give” Malentendu”) in its original years has also had cinema executives in 2012 and 2017. The 71st Cannes Film Festival in May was and Steve McQueen’s “Widows.” language at Tehran’s Molavi Hall tonight. Amazon.com’s film studio Singer Demi Lovato awake after A group composed of Iranian students of the French chief Ropell to depart suspected overdose language are members of the troupe, the Molavi Hall SEATTLE (Reuters) — Amazon.com LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — U.S. pop announced on Wednesday. Inc on Tuesday said Jason Ropell, the singer Demi Lovato, who has spoken openly “The Misunderstanding” executive in charge of its film division, about her history of drug and alcohol abuse, is about a man who has been plans to leave the company, in what could is awake after she was taken to a Los Angeles living overseas for many signal a shift toward commercial projects hospital on Tuesday suffering from a sus- years and then returns home, and away from independent films. pected overdose, according to media reports. only to find his sister and Ropell, who oversaw the young movie Lovato, 25, a Grammy-nominated re- widowed mother making a studio’s first Oscar wins since taking the cording artist, was “okay and stable, reported living by taking in lodgers job in 2015, will stay with the company for People magazine, quoting an unidentified several months to help with the transition source. A poster for “The and murdering them. Since neither his sister nor his mother and strategy, the world’s largest online “Demi is awake and with her family who Misunderstanding” Demi Lovato arrives for the 2018 Billboard recognize him, he becomes a retailer said. The marquee of United Artists theater is want to express thanks to everyone for the Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. lodger himself without revealing his identity. Ted Hope and Matt Newman will both seen during Amazon’s premiere screening love, prayers, and support,” Lovato’s rep- May 20, 2018. (Reuters/Steve Marcus) The play will be onstage until August 10. run the division as interim co-heads while of the TV series “Transparent” at the Ace resentative told entertainment magazine the company searches for a replacement, Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, Cali- Variety in a statement. the floor, To the ones who never left me, Amazon said. fornia, September 15, 2014. (Reuters/ Representatives for Lovato did not re- We’ve been down this road before, I’m so Until now, Jennifer Salke, Amazon Kevork Djansezian) spond to a request for comment. sorry, I’m not sober anymore.” Vanessa Redgrave to receive Studios’ chief who was hired in February, seeking a wider audience as it pursues Entertainment news website TMZ, quot- The New Mexico-born performer rose had largely made personnel changes its central business goal: attracting more ing law enforcement sources, reported that to fame on Disney Channel shows “Camp career prize at Venice Film Fest related to the company’s television members to Prime, its subscription-based Lovato was found unconscious at her home Rock” and “Sonny with a Chance” 10 years

programming. The move on Tuesday video streaming and shopping club. and was treated with Narcan, an emergen- ago and forged a pop career with hits like ROME (AP) — British actress Vanessa Redgrave will receive highlights Salke’s interest in reviewing Amazon’s 100 million Prime members cy antidote for suspected opioid and drug “Skyscraper” and “Sorry Not Sorry.” the prestigious Golden Lion career prize at this year’s Venice the direction of Amazon’s film slate as well. globally buy more goods on average than overdoses. In a 2017 YouTube documentary, “Sim- Film Festival. Ropell helped the streaming media those who are not in the club, which in Los Angeles police said they had respond- ply Complicated,” Lovato spoke about years Each year, the Venice service capture its first Academy Awards the United States costs $119 per year. ed to a medical emergency on Tuesday in- of substance abuse, eating disorders, and Biennale awards two prizes to in 2017 for the drama “Manchester by Reuters reported earlier this year that volving a woman on the Hollywood Hills drinking, saying she first started using co- celebrate careers in cinema, the Sea,” which won two Oscars. Amazon expected to go after films with street where Lovato reportedly has a home caine when she was 17. one to a movie director and Amazon’s “The Big Sick” was an Oscar budgets in the $50 million range at the but declined to identify the person. She entered rehab at the age of 18, where one to an actor or actress. nominee this year, and another project expense of indie projects costing around City fire department spokeswoman she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Together with Redgrave, championed by Ropell, the upcoming $5 million. Margaret Stewart said a 25-year-old wom- Lovato, who has some 69 million fol- Canadian filmmaker David film “Beautiful Boy” starring actor Steve Changes to Amazon’s TV lineup are an was transported to a local hospital from lowers on Instagram, was in the midst of a Cronenberg will receive the Carell, has already generated Oscar buzz already underway. Amazon last year that location. U.S. tour and was due to perform in Atlantic Golden Lion at the festival, for 2019. announced it will make a prequel to the Lovato released a song last month called City, New Jersey, on Thursday. which runs Aug. 29-Sept. 8. While artistic fare put Amazon on the fantasy drama “The Lord of the Rings,” “Sober” in which she sang: “Momma, I’m so Country singer Brad Paisley tweeted: Redgrave, a six-time Oscar- map in Hollywood and helped it attract in what some viewed as an attempt to sorry, I’m not sober anymore, And daddy, “Addiction is a terrible disease. There is no nominated actress, won the top talent, the company is increasingly rival HBO’s global hit “Game of Thrones.” please forgive me for the drinks spilled on one more honest or brave than this woman.” Academy Award in 1978 for her performance in “Julia”. She won a Tony Award for best actress in a play for “Long Day’s Clinton, Powell, Albright to guest star in “Madam Secretary” Journey into Night” in 2003. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Three former turning to her more experienced peers for efforts to balance delicate diplomatic issues ment shows as herself, including a cameo In this Sunday, Dec. 10, In a statement released U.S. secretaries of state - Hillary Clinton, advice when the series returns for a fifth as well as personal stories and her family life. on comedy “Broad City” in 2016 and with 2017 file photo, Actress Tuesday by organizers, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright - will season on Oct. 7. The show launched in 2014, a year after “Saturday Night Live” doppelganger Kate Vanessa Redgrave poses for Redgrave said she was make guest appearances in October on po- “It was a privilege to experience their Clinton stepped down from her post at the McKinnon in 2015. photographers upon arrival at “extraordinarily happy” to litical television drama “Madam Secretary,” perspectives and discourse both in and be- State Department after four years. In 2015, Madeleine Albright, the first female secre- the British Independent Film learn about the prize. broadcaster CBS said on Tuesday. hind the scenes,” Barbara Hall, creator and the Democrat declared she would run for tary of state, served under Democratic Pres- Awards in London. (AP/Joel Venice festival organizers The three have already filmed their ep- executive producer of “Madam Secretary,” president in 2016 but was defeated by Re- ident Bill Clinton. Colin Powell, secretary of C Ryan) are to release the line-up for isode, which involves fictional Secretary of said in a statement. publican Donald Trump. state under Republican President George W. the film festival on Wednesday. State Elizabeth McCord, played by Tea Leoni, “Madam Secretary” portrays McCord’s Clinton has appeared briefly on entertain- Bush, was the first black man to hold the post.