Iran Air Receives First ATR Plane Suspects in Ahvaz Killing Arrested

PARIS (Dispatches) -- Iran Air has received the delivery of its TEHRAN (Dispatches) Suspects behind the deadly
first four ATR 72-600s planes, ATR said on Tuesday. attack on security forces in the southern city of Ahvaz
Earlier this year, ATR and Iran Air had signed a firm contract have been arrested, the Tasnim news agency reported
for 20 ATR 72-600s and options for a further 20 planes. on Tuesday.
Deliveries of the 20 firm aircraft are to be completed by the end It cited the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps
of 2018. As Irans traveling public gains access to increased commander for Khuzestan province, Gen. Hassan
supply of air transportation, it will benefit from the highest Shahvarpour, as saying the gunmen who martyred
standards of comfort, efficiency and reliability with the ATRs two policemen on Monday have been arrested. The
we are delivering today and over the coming months, ATR assailants attacked a police station in Ahvaz, setting
Chief Executive Christian Scherer said in a statement. off a shootout that also wounded four policemen.

VOL NO: LV 10323 TEHRAN / Est.1959 Wednesday, May 17, 2017, Ordibehesht 27, 1396, Shaban 20, 1438, Price 15000 Rials

Viewpoint
Envoy Urges Weightlifter UN-Brokered
By Kayhan Intl Staff Writer
Expansion of Asgari Syria Talks
Trump Goes to Riyadh Iran, Russia Takes Held in
P. 2 Cultural Ties P. 3 Silver P. 6 Geneva P. 8
Wall Street Journal Reveals:

Saudis Offer Zionist Regime Normalized Ties

Reformist Council Forces
Jahangiri to Drop Out
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- More
than 60 violations linked to
Fridays presidential and regional
elections in Iran have occurred and
two people have been arrested, the
judiciary said on Tuesday.
Judiciary spokesman
Gholamhussein Mohseni Ejei said
Tuesday the electoral infractions
were committed by governors,
county chiefs, district chiefs and
the heads of government offices,
according to judiciary news site
Mizan.
Mohseni Ejei said the two
arrests arose from an attempt by
an election candidates campaign
office to steal documents
pertaining to a rival.
No details were given about the
other violations, though Mohseni
Ejei said they were being pursued
in the courts.
The May 19 election is shaping
up primarily as a contest between
Rouhani and Ebrahim Raisi, a
cleric who served in the judiciary
for many years.
Raisi and other Principlists have
accused Rouhani of tolerating
corruption and mismanaging the
economy.
At a campaign appearance in
the northwestern city of Zanjan
Tuesday, Rouhani accused certain
unnamed groups of drumming up
support for Raisi.
Dont go to the rural areas
and lie to people, Rouhani was
quoted by the Iranian Labor News
Agency (ILNA) as saying. Dont
gather people with buses. Dont
give them lunch at military bases.
Eshaq Jahangiri, the Iranian
first vice president, dropped out of
the race to back Rouhani.
He broke the news while
addressing a rally in the southern
city of Shiraz, a day after Tehran
Mayor Muhammad-Baqer Qalibaf
quit the race to support Raisis bid.
As the presidential campaign
is nearing its end, I feel I have
done my duty and withdraw my
candidacy for the presidential
race, Jahangiri said.
At the current juncture, I
consider supporting Rouhani and
a firm vote for him as support for
the capable Iranian people, who
have the right to be hopeful about
a better future, he said.
Jahangiri called on the Iranian
nation to massively participate in
the presidential election and help
an administration that seeks to
decisively carry out major tasks.
He issued the statement after
the Reformists Supreme Council
for Election Policymaking sent
a letter to him calling for his
withdrawal from the race to
support the incumbent president.
With regard to the existing
situation in the country, the
council suggests that the vice
president make another responsive
decision and quit the presidential
race in order to back the candidate
supported by the reformists by
consensus, the letter said.
Raisis popularity has risen
steadily in recent weeks and
Qalibafs move should give him a
last-minute boost against Rouhani.
Addressing his supporters in
Isfahan, Raisi said the 2015
nuclear deal considered a
landmark legacy of Rouhanis
administration had not been used
to as much advantage as it could
have.
A revolutionary administration
is needed to cash the check of the
deal, he added.
(Continued on Page 7)
U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman meet at the White
House in Washington, March 14, 2017.
WASHINGTON (Dispatches) --
Numerous Persian Gulf states have
offered to normalize relations with
the occupying regime of Israel if Tel
Aviv takes steps to restart peace
talks with the Palestinians, reports
said Tuesday.
The offer comes a week before
Donald Trump visits Saudi Arabia
and Occupied Palestine in his first
foreign trip as U.S. president.
The Wall Street Journal said
numerous Persian Gulf states were
prepared to set up telecommunication
lines with Tel Aviv, open trade
negotiations and allow planes to fly
over their airspace.
The position to normalize relations
with Israel was outlined in an
unreleased discussion paper shared
among several Arab states, obtained
by the Wall Street Journal.
The paper, according to WSJ,
was intended to demonstrate
that the Persian Gulf states were
committed to aligning themselves
to Trumps foreign policy, who
has stressed a desire to work with
Arab states to normalize ties with
the Zionist regime.
His first foreign trip as president
is due to take place at the weekend
and includes stops in Saudi
Trump Under Fire for Sharing Intel With Russia
WASHINGTON (Dispatches) --
Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday
that he had shared information with
Russia last week, and defended his
right to do so, hours after U.S. media
reported he had divulged top-secret
information on the Daesh group.
The U.S. president defended
Arabia, Occupied Palestine and
the Vatican.
Trump is due to convene Arab
world leaders from across the
Middle East alongside Saudi royal
family members in Riyadh. He is
expected to offer details for the
first time on his vision for talks
between Zionists and Palestinians
in a press conference in Jerusalem
Al-Quds.
added.
Trump added that he had shared
the information with Russia for
humanitarian reasons, plus I want
Russia to greatly step up their fight
against IS (Daesh) and terrorism.
Declassifying information is
a presidential privilege and is
On Monday, Abu Dhabis
crown prince, Mohamed Bin
Zayed al-Nahyan, met Trump in
Washington.
The initiative, according to those
briefed, underscores relations
between Israel and Saudi allies
in recent years, driven by their
shared animosity toward Iran.
Arab and Palestinian leaders,
however, remain deeply skeptical
that Israeli PM Benjamin
Netanyahu is committed to
embracing the peace process.
In recent days, members of his
regime have increased pressure on
Trump to move the U.S. embassy
to Jerusalem Al-Quds.
The Zionist regime and Persian
Gulf countries have secretly
stepped up intelligence sharing,
according to U.S., European and
the Middle East officials involved
in security issues.
Zionist officials have also made
a number of secret trips to the
Persian Gulf, particularly to the
UAE, despite their countries
having no formal diplomatic
relations.
Saudi Arabias King Salman
on Monday touted the upcoming
meeting between Trump and Arab
monarchs as the start of a new
relationship that will strengthen
global security.
(Continued on Page 7)
Comey.
Comey had been overseeing
investigations into possible Trump
campaign collusion with Russia to
skew the 2016 election.
The meeting with the Russian
officials came a day after that firing,
and was already controversial in

Iran to Join OPEC-Led Oil Cut?

LONDON/DUBAI (Dispatches)
-- A proposal to extend an OPEC
and non-OPEC supply cut for nine
months is a positive idea, Reuters on
Tuesday quoted unnamed sources
familiar with Iranian thinking said,
suggesting OPECs third-largest
producer is likely to go along with
such a plan if there is a consensus.
Saudi Arabia and Russia, the
worlds top two oil producers,
agreed on Monday on the need to
extend output cuts for nine months
until March 2018 to erode a glut.
That would be longer than the
optional six-month extension first
agreed.
Kuwait, a Persian Gulf producer
usually aligned with the Saudi
OPEC view, said on Tuesday
it supported the proposal. The
Iranian position is less predictable,
however, as it was the only OPEC
member allowed to increase its
output under the supply cut deal
and holds presidential elections on
Friday.
This statement shows the
commitment by OPEC and major
non-OPEC oil producers to bringing
stability to the oil market, in which
is essential to have security of
supply in coming years, said one
of the sources.
A second source said he expected
Iran would probably agree to a
nine-month extension when OPEC
and non-OPEC producers meet to
set policy on May 25 in Vienna,
provided that other producers such
as Iraq were also on board.
During talks last year on the
supply cut deal, Iran successfully
argued it be allowed room to pump
more as it lost market share while
under Western sanctions, raising
the question of whether Tehran
would sign up for a longer supply
cut.
Iran has not officially reacted to
the Saudi-Russian statement. In
Fridays election, President Hassan
Rouhani is standing for a second
term against five other candidates,
mostly prominent Principlists.
The current oil minister, Bijan
Zangeneh, speaking on May 6, said
he believed producers were likely to
extend the OPEC-led deal although
he did not give a timeframe, and
added $55 was a suitable price for
oil.
Oil prices have gained support
from the supply cut pact but
high inventories and rising U.S.
production have acted as a brake
on the recovery. Brent crude was
trading at $52 on Tuesday.
(Continued on Page 7)
his absolute right to share
information with Russia, tweeting
that, As President I wanted to
share with Russia which I have
the absolute right to do, facts
pertaining...to terrorism and airline
flight safety.
His message came after the
Washington Post said he had
revealed to Russias foreign
minister, Sergei Lavrov, highly
classified information gathered by
an ally, on an alleged Daesh threat
to use laptops on a passenger plane.
The information was declassified
in the act of Trump telling Lavrov
and Russian ambassador to the
U.S., Sergey Kislyak.
Just before Trumps tweets,
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
said the story was nonsense and
that it was not worth confirming or
denying.
For us it is not an issue, its more
nonsense, Peskov said when asked
about the report. Its not an issue
for confirming or denying, Peskov
not illegal, but the intelligence
reportedly came from a U.S. ally
who did not authorize Washington
to share it with Moscow.
That development that could
shatter trust that is essential to
intelligence and counterterrorism
cooperation.
There has been speculation that the
information potentially came from
key ally Jordan, after the White
House announced that Trumps first
agenda item for Tuesday was to be
a phone call with Jordanian King
Abdullah.
Trumps national security adviser,
HR McMaster, denied the president
had revealed intelligence sources
or methods, but acknowledged
that Trump and Lavrov reviewed a
range of common threats to our two
countries, including threats to civil
aviation.
Last week, Trump threw his
administration into turmoil by
taking the almost unprecedented
step of firing his FBI director James
itself, a red carpet welcome for top
aides of Vladimir Putin just months
after being hit with U.S. sanctions
for alleged meddling in the 2016
presidential election.
Trumps administration was left
red-faced after Moscow surprised
them by releasing pictures of what
was meant to be a closed-door
meeting.
Political and legal experts said
this latest misstep is among the
most egregious so far of Trumps
presidency.
This is the most serious charge
ever made against a sitting president
of the United States, renowned
legal expert Alan Dershowitz told
CNN late Monday.
Bob Corker, the Republican head
of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, called the allegations
very, very troubling.
Obviously, theyre in a downward
spiral right now, he said Monday,
and theyve got to come to grips
with all thats happening.
 2 May 17, 2017 DOMESTIC NEWS

Life Better for Jews in

Kayhan Group of Newspapers
Editorial Dept. Tel.: 33911561, 33110251-9
Ext.: 2334, 2336, 2337
Iran Than in Europe What! will you not
fight a people who
broke their oaths and
Advertising Dept.: 33110251-9 Ext. 2336
Subscription Ext.: 2322 aimed at the expulsion
Facsimile: 33114228 & 33111120 of the Apostle, and they
Website: www.kayhan.ir/en attacked you first; do
E-mail: kayhanintl@yahoo.com you fear them? But Allah
P.O. Box: 11365/9631 is most deserving that
you should fear Him, if
Address: Martyr Shah Cheraghi Street, Ferdowsi Avenue,
you are believers.
Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran
The Holy Quran (9.13)

In the Name of the Most High

Viewpoint PRAYER TIMINGS
Noon (Zohr) 13:00
Evening(Maghreb)20:24
Trump Goes to Dawn(Fajr) Tomorrow04:16

Riyadh Sunrise Tomorrow 05:56

The Iranian MP said that Jews and

By: Kayhan Intl Staff Writer
Muslims respected each other despite
differences.
There is a reason why U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Saudi He said the Jewish community and
other religious groups in Iran were
Arabia soon. U.S.-backed, Saudi-led war crimes and crimes against An Iranian Jewish couple casts their ballots for the parliamentary elections, in their polling station, in not separated from one another,
humanity in Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain are still continuing apace. Tehran. (file photo) adding that Jews have economic
TEHRAN (Dispatches) - A Jewish condition in Iran has always been Germanys Deutsche Welle (DW), relations with Muslims.
Once in Riyadh, and as is customary, Trump will seek joint action
lawmaker at the Iranian Parliament better than in Europe. In our countrys which was published on Monday. Moreh Sedgh, who also serves as
on alleged Iranian security threats, and ask what else he needs to do to (Majlis) says Jews can freely practice history, there was never a time when Jews are a recognized minority the director of the Tehran Jewish
their religion in Iran and have always all Iranians had the same religion, here, so we can practice our religion Committee and the Dr. Sapir Hospital
kill more civilians in the Saudi-led and U.S.-backed war on Yemen. He
enjoyed better living conditions in the race, or language, so there is a high freely. We have more than 20 in the Iranian capital, said his closest
will also signal increased support for the push to topple the legitimate Islamic Republic than in Europe. degree of tolerance, Siamak Moreh working synagogues in Tehran and at friends were Muslims.
Generally speaking, the Jews Sedgh said in an interview with least five kosher butcheries, he said. (Continued on Page 7)
government of Syria. Indeed, Trump wont be flying to Riyadh to make

Iran, Russia, Turkey Working to Implement

crime pay. That is never his intention:
-As stated by the White House, Trumps visit is designed to discuss
deeper cooperation and sell Riyadh yet more weapons and bombs,
including cluster munition worth over $100 billion, to engage in
De-Escalation Deal
sectarian warfare, war crimes, and human rights violations in Bahrain, TEHRAN (Tasnim) Guarantors government meeting, according to combat operations, including memorandum was concluded for
states of a ceasefire in Syria are Sputnik. flights by military aircraft, are six months and can be extended
Yemen, and Syria. Trump also wants to ensure the Mideast vassal that actively working to implement This effort mostly involves outlawed starting from May 6. The automatically.
he would not hesitate to veto any legislation at the United Nations or a memorandum on creating de- military experts, he added.
escalation zones in Syria, including This concerns designating the
Congress against the House of Saud. on drawing up a map and establishing de-escalation zones geographically,
-American media outlets say Trump protects Saudis against terror suits checkpoints, Kazakhstans Foreign on the map, and also establishing
Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said observation points and checkpoints
and backs suits explicitly against Iran and its anti-terror campaign in on Tuesday. along these zones, Abdrakhmanov
Iraq and Syria. This is what it is. Currently, countries-guarantors further said.

and all parties concerned are
-Despite the nuclear deal, the permanent standoff between working on implementing the
Washington and Tehran is real. As maintained by Supreme Leader memorandum on setting up the
so-called de-escalation zones. The
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran will continue its support for the
recent working meetings between
Syrian government despite abundant practical and propaganda threats. Kazakhstans President Nursultan
Nazarbayev in Beijing with the
Also, Tehran will never show any submission to new Western demands
senior leadership of Russia and
about its missile defense program and other technologies that ultimately the Turkish Republic showed that
the sides are actively working on
seek to empower national defense capabilities.
various aspects of fulfilling this
-The nuclear accord is a bag of unsubstantiated promises and all memorandum, Abdrakhmanov
Iranian presidential candidates are clear on that. The U.S. government said on the sidelines of a
and the European Union refuse to lift their primary sanctions. Chief
of Central Bank of Iran Valiollah Seif says the U.S. and the EU refuse
New Systems Enter Service
to honor the nuclear agreement by keeping Iran locked out of the in Iran Air Defense Force
international financial system. He is also complaining that almost TEHRAN (Tasnim) Commander
of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base
nothing has been done to reintegrate Iran into the global economy.
Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili
-All U.S. presidential visits to Riyadh are always met with arms wide
open, always. Trump is not going there to raise issues with the Saudi
on Tuesday hailed the countrys
recent achievements in the area of air
defense as eye-catching and said
human rights record not least its indiscriminate Yemeni bombing new advanced systems have joined
campaign, let alone take a stand. As things sit, he will give an uncritical the Islamic Republics air defense
network.
backing to the Saudi regime.The U.S. government has been complicit
The air defense has made eye-
in the repression the Saudi regime uses against its own citizens, as well catching achievements in the area
of detection and surveillance radars
as the humanitariancatastrophesit has unleashed onYemen and the
as well as electronic eavesdropping
rest of the region. equipment and Identification Friend
On May 4, Russia, Iran and
Turkey agreed to set up four de-
escalation zones in Syria. Under
a memorandum signed at the
talks in Kazakhstans Astana,
these four zones include the
Idlib province and some parts of
neighboring provinces (Aleppo,
Latakia and Hama), an area north
of Homs, Damascuss suburb
Eastern Ghouta, and a number of
provinces in southern Syria - Daraa
and Al-Quneitra. In those areas,
firing, he went on to say.
In comments a couple of months
ago, the commander had announced
that Irans Air Defense has such
advanced gear that can detect and
act against threats well before
they could approach the countrys
airspace.
He also made it clear that his
forces rely on homegrown systems
and devise strategies with an eye to
contemporary threats.
get away with their political Alzheimers disease.
Iranian military experts and
technicians have in recent years made
Religious Democracy
SIASAT ROOZ: On Friday, Iranians will go to the polls to elect their next
president. This Iranian democracy is a role model for many other nations in
West Asia and North Africa. It is a successful model that others can follow.
One of the things that has fascinated the elites and the scientists elsewhere
in the region is the victory of Islamic revolution in Iran. It is also one of the
reasons why America is angry. The U.S. and its allies are angry because in Iran
it is people who determine their own fate and not outside powers. Religious
democracy is what excites people in other parts of the region.
Lord of Promises
KAYHAN: Some presidential candidates are using all the tricks in the book
as well as support and propaganda to stay in the game. Voters are unable to see
the surface in these murky media waters. They are being constantly bombarded
by media propaganda and find it increasingly difficult to hear the truth. Some
candidates are telling voters to expect a perfect storm. Even they themselves
know that this is pure fantasy. The storm will soon end the reign of those who
keep giving us empty promises.
Day of Reckoning
RESALAT: Rouhani suffers from political Alzheimers disease in light of his
empty promises. People are set to elect a president that promotes international
relations based on Islamic beliefs and values. Friday is the day of reckoning.
People will soon get the chance to determine their fate for the next four years.
Those who talk about building a wall between men and women are desperate
to undermine their main challenger and at the same time distract attention from
their poor performances in these four years. They should never be allowed to

or Foe (IFF) systems, Brigadier
True, the Saudi free riders have been pretty public about their
General Esmaili said.
displeasure about Irans nuclear deal with the U.S. But behind The deployment of numerous
closed doors, it is business as usual. For all the fakestream media air defense systems have made it
possible for the country to constantly
speculations, the two partners in crime are inseparable, in particular, and strictly monitor its airspace, the
when it comes to human rights violations and crimes committed against commander added.
New missile systems have also
humanity in Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain. entered service in the countrys air
defense after successful test-
great headways in manufacturing
a broad range of indigenous
equipment, making the armed forces
self-sufficient in the arms sphere.
Tehran has always assured other
nations that its military might poses
no threat to regional countries
and others, saying that the Islamic
Republics defense doctrine is
entirely based on deterrence.
Revolutionary Voters
VATAN EMROOZ: Being a revolutionary is not like having a political
approach to things. Revolutionary management is not a tool to win votes on
election night. It is the description of a successful and people-oriented method
designed to resolve all the existing issues in the country independently. All
revolutionary forces have reduced themselves to unity nationwide in order
to restore the lofty principles of the Islamic revolution. They have sacrificed
everything and they are now waiting for people to come out and cast their
ballots on Friday.
 Art & Culture May 17, 2017 3

This Day in History

(May 17) Envoy Urges Expansion of Iran,
Russia Cultural Ties
Today is Wednesday; 27th of the Iranian month of Ordibehesht 1396 solar
hijri; corresponding to 20th of the Islamic month of Shaban 1438 lunar hijri;
and May 17, 2017, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.
1071 solar years ago, on this day in 946 AD, al-Qaem-be-Amrillah, the
second self-styled caliph of the Fatemid Shia Muslim dynasty of Ifriqiya or and the Russian Federation, saying Maleki said.
what are now Tunisia, Algeria and Libya in northern Africa, died at the age 51 enhanced cultural ties between the two Iranian Foreign Minister
in Mahdiya in present day Tunisia after a 12-year reign, and was succeeded nations will pave the ground for closer Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message
by his son, Ismail al-Mansur. political relations. to a conference in Tehran held in late
1053 lunar years ago,on this day in 385 AH, the famous Islamic historian Relations between Iran and Russia January to mark 515 years of relations
and bibliographer, Mohammad Ibn Ishaq Ibn an-Nadeem, passed away. He should not be confined to the level of between Iran and Russia, called for
was a follower of the Prophets Ahl al-Bayt and the author of the famous the governments, Maleki said in a diversification of relations between
encyclopedic work al-Fehrist. Ibn an-Nadeems choice of the rather rare meeting about cultural relations and the two countries, which he said will
Persian word pehrest (Arabicized as fehrist/fehris) for the title of his their impact on political ties held at contribute to peace and stability in
masterpiece on Arabic literature is noteworthy. This work is ample testimony the University of Tehrans Faculty of Central Asia and the Middle East.
to his knowledge of pre-Islamic, Syriac, Greek, Sanskrit, Latin and Persian World Studies. Pointing to the ups and downs in more
books. He gives the titles only of those books which he had seen himself or The grounds should be paved for than five centuries of political interaction
whose existence was confirmed by a trustworthy person. the development of political relations between Iran and Russia, Zarif said
586 lunar years ago, on this day in 852 AH, Ottoman Sultan Murad II through using other strategies such the two neighbors should maintain
decisively defeated a united European Christian Crusader army of 100,000 as expanding cultural relations, the broad relations and try to diversify and
soldiers in the Second Battle of Kosovo, led by the king of Hungary, after Iranian diplomat stated. promote ties in all directions.
three days of fierce fighting. One of the means for the peoples The conference could pave the
477 solar years ago, on this day in 1540 AD, the Battle of Bilgram near of the two countries to know one way for closer cultural interaction
Irans Cultural Attach in Moscow Reza Maleki.
the town of the same name in northern India led to the resounding defeat another is development of tourism by and stronger links between the two
of Mughal Emperor, Naseer od-Din Humayun, by the Afghan warlord Sher TEHRAN (Tasnim) Irans Cultural stressed the need to further promote which the conditions are created for peoples, the Iranian top diplomat said
Khan Suri, who now became the master of Delhi and Agra and assumed Attach in Moscow Reza Maleki relations between the Islamic Republic establishing strong cultural bonds, the time.
the title of Sher Shah. Humayun, who could not use his artillery during
the surprise attack because of heavy rains, barely escaped with his life and
became a fugitive, finally fleeing to Iran to the court of Shah Tahmasp Safavi.
Later, with Iranian military help, he returned to the Subcontinent and on the Iran Develops New Method to Treat Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction
death of Sher Shah reclaimed the throne of Delhi.
268 solar years ago, on this day in 1749 AD, English physician and surgeon, TEHRAN (IRNA) The head of She said, The mentioned is seen in elderly individuals, the surgery session at the International
Edward Jenner, who discovered vaccination for smallpox, was born. the Iranian Neuro-Urology Society diseases and treatments for prostate nervous system gets disordered Neuro-Urology Society Congress
212 solar years ago, on this day in 1805 AD, the Albanian general, said Iranian surgeons for the first time problems can result in a rupture and it causes urinary incontinence, held December 8-10, 2016.
Mohammad Ali Pasha, who was dispatched to Egypt by the Ottoman Sultan, have devised a new method to treat of the spinal nerve controlling and people suffering from slipped Since then similar operations
following the withdrawal of Napoleon Bonaparte and his occupying French Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction. the bladder and the patient may disc or spinal stenosis (abnormal have been done in many hospitals
forces in 1801, officially proclaimed himself the Khedive (Persian for In the new method there is no contract neurogenic bladder. narrowing of the spinal canal) that in Tehran, Shiraz and Tabriz,
Viceroy or Ruler) of Egypt and Sudan by eliminating all rivals. During need for Urinary catheterization Referring to the fact that have undergone surgical operations Mehrad said.
his almost half-a-century rule he transformed Egypt into a regional power to prevent urinary incontinence, diabetes can bring about some may develop urinary incontinence She said in this method, which
which he saw as the natural successor to the decaying Ottoman Empire. Doctor Mehri Mehrad, said in a dysfunction in the nervous system as well, Mehrad said. is called sacral nerve stimulator
He launched the expedition into the Hijaz to liberate the holy cities of press conference on Tuesday. of the bladder and cause urinary She went on to say that spinal modulation, one electrode is
Mecca and Medina from desert brigands of the Najd led by Abdullah ibn Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, incontinence, she added, One tumors, congenial diseases, implanted in spine and every two
Saud, who followed the heretical Wahhabi cult and had desecrated the Parkinsons Disease, benign and of the first urinary retention, in childbirth and menopause can hours the remote provides orders to
holy shrines. After purging the Hijaz of the Wahhabis, Mohammad Ali malignant prostate cancers, spine which the patient cannot empty bring on urinary incontinence. the electrode to empty the bladder.
Pasha sent his son, Ibrahim, in 1812, to completely destroy and rout out tumors, and congenital diseases the bladder completely and the The head of Neuro-Urology According to the Iranian doctor,
the Aal-e Saud from Najd itself. After a two-year campaign, the Aal-e can cause Neurogenic Bladder retained urine may cause bladder Society (INUS) of Iran said that such an operation is a very
Saud clan was crushed and most of them captured. The leader, Abdullah Dysfunction, Mehrad, M. D., infection. the bladder operation was done expensive one, but it is fully
ibn Saud, was sent to Istanbul, and executed for having desecrated the said. In the Parkinsons disease which in Iran for the first time in a live covered by medical insurances.
holy shrine of Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala, before his sacrilegious attack
on the Hijaz. In short, Mohammad Ali established the dynasty that lasted
till the military coup of 1952 and the ouster of King Farouq by General
Mohammad Najib and Colonel Jamal Abd an-Nasser.
Life and a Day at Crest of IFFA
152 solar years ago, on this day in 1865 AD, in the presence of representatives TEHRAN (MNA) Saeed Roostaees bipolar disorder and stays at his brothers
of twenty countries in Paris and following the conclusion of first international feature film Life and a Day (Persian: house for a while. The story is around the
contract in the domain of communications, the International Telegraph Union Abad va yek rooz) won the award for the annotations and events happening to this
was founded and its international bylaw was prepared and approved. For this best film at Iranian Film Festival Australia family as a result of that stay.
reason, this day is named as the International Communications Day. In 1932, (IFFA). Also, the Best Female Actor award
according to decisions of the Madrid Conference, the International Telegraph The award-giving ceremony of the went to Leila Hatami for the part she
Union was renamed International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and all sixth edition of IFFA was held on Sunday played in I which was jointly produced
its bylaws were reviewed. In 1947, ITU became a UN affiliate. May 14 in the Australian Embassy with by Saeed Sadi and Saeed Khani and
151 lunar years ago, on this day in 1287 AH, the great scholar, Ayatollah Australian Ambassador Ian Biggs and directed by Soheil Beyraghi. With Leila
Mohammad Reza Najafi Isfahani, known as Masjid-Shahi, was born in the Iranian-Australian filmmaker Armin Hatami, Mani Haghighi, Amir Jadidi
holy city of Najaf in Iraq. Miladi as well as a number of artists and and Behnoush Bakhtiari as the cast, I is
108 solar years ago, on this day in 1909 AD, Dutch orientalist, Michael filmmakers. about a strange unlawful woman who acts
Jan de Goeje, died at the age of 73 after half-a-century of research and Fatemeh Motamedaria and Shahram outside the law under the police scrutiny.
publication of several valuable Arabic works of Islamic geographers and Mokri, who formed the jury of Iranian
historiographers, such as Seyyed Mohammad al-Hasani al-Idrisi of Sicily, Film Festival Australia, presented the
and the Iranians Abul-Qasim Ibn Khordadbeh and Abu Jafar Tabari. awards to winners of the festival in
105 lunar years ago, on this day in 1333 AH, Ayatollah Mullah Mohammad various sections.
Akhund Kashi, passed away at the age of 84 in Isfahan. Accordingly, Life and a Day, directed
78 solar years ago, on this day in 1939 AD, the British occupation authorities by Saeed Roostaee and produced by
of Palestine released a so-called White Paper on the threshold of World War Saeed Malekan, was awarded NETPAC
II for illegally settling 100,000 more European Zionists, as a prelude to the Award, as well as Best Film for the
planting of the usurper state of Israel. The Palestinians rejected the plan, Festivals debut Golden Pomegranate
which they sensed was a prelude for complete occupation of their homeland. Award. The jury described the film as
In 1942, in a conference held in the US, European Zionists formally called for a thoroughly assured film, impeccably
the establishment of a usurper Jewish state in Palestine called Israel. realised, rich in revelations about the
30 solar years ago, on this day in 1987, during the 8-year war imposed by everyday stresses, disappointments,
the US on Islamic Iran through Saddam, Iraqi jetfighters fired missiles at the aspirations and humanity of family life in
US Warship Stark killing 37 American soldiers and wounding scores of present-day Iran.
others. The Bath minority regime of Baghdad immediately offered apology Staring, Payman Maadi, Navid
to the US, and Washington which was in league with Saddam against Iran, Mohammadzadeh, Shirin Yazdanbakhsh
quickly responded by calling the attack and the death of its soldiers as a and Parinaz Izadyar, the drama film
case of mistaken identity. Experts believe Iraqs missile attack on the USS recounts the story of Somayeh is at a loss.
Stark and the death of US personnel was preplanned by both Washington and Her only desire is to leave her family and
Baghdad to portray the Persian Gulf region as unsafe so as to enable the US take her destiny in hand, yet the love of
send more warships for intimidating the Islamic Republic of Iran. her sick mother holds her back. Her elder
8 solar years ago, on this day in 2009 AD, the prominent Source of brother, introduces her to an Afghan
Emulation, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Bahjat Foumani, passed away who wants to marry her and take her to
in Holy Qom at the age of 94 years. He was born in the city of Fouman, Afghanistan. Despite herself, but moved
Gilan Province, in northern Iran, and completed his preliminary studies in by her brothers concern, she accepts the
his hometown. After learning Arabic, he left for the seminary of Holy Najaf offer, seeing it as primarily a means of
in Iraq in 1929 for higher studies. He returned to Iran in 1945, and settled escaping her family. And then, at the very
in Qom, lecturing on jurisprudence and theology, and grooming numerous last minute, she discovers the hidden face
students. His most important characteristic was his spotless piety that of the marriage proposal.
influenced every one. He was a highly knowledgeable Islamic scholar, and it Nase Hashemi received the award for
is said he had been gifted by God with the vision for the unseen. He has left the Best Male Actor for starring in My
behind a large number of valuable compilations, including Kitab-e Salaat Brother, Khosrow directed by Ehsan
and Jamae al-Masael. Biglar. The 95-miute drama film story The 20th edition of international exhibition of Medical, Dental, and Laboratory Equipment is underway in the Irani-
an capital of Tehran. The three-day event kicked off on May 15.
of two brothers who have to spend some
(Courtesy: IRIB English Radio http://parstoday.com/en) Courtesy: Tasnim News Agency
time together, one of whom suffers
 May 17, 2017

All Eyes on the Presidential RIDDLES

Polls Dear youngsters, could you
answer the following questions.
Salaam dear young friends and hope you are well by the grace 1. Ive been argued on my
of God. The weather is fine and although it is spring, we are slowly colour. Without me youll die.
moving towards summer. So many attempts on your life
Anyway, we are thankful to our Loving Creator for having use me, so make sure you have
bestowed upon us the great blessing of Islam, the insight to adhere many of my White friends.
to the path of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), and clarity of vision to
What am I?
follow the teachings of his Infallible Ahl al-Bayt.
2. I see what you see, feel what
In view of these facts, dont you think that the establishment
of the Islamic Republic in Iran in 1979 by that Sage of the Age, you feel, and hear what you
Imam Khomeini (RA), was a divine reward for Iranian Muslims for hear. I know all of your moves
their sincere awaiting of the reappearance of the Lord of the Age, before you make them. I even
the Prophets 12th and Last Infallible Heir, Imam Mahdi (AS), to know the moves you didnt
end corruption and oppression on Earth by establishing the global make. What am I?
government of peace, prosperity, and justice! 3. I am flora, not fauna. I
Of course, it was. Now it is the duty of our youthful generation to
am foliage, not trees. I am
safeguard the dynamic ideals of the Islamic Revolution that rubbed
shrubbery, not grass. What am
the nose of the Great Satan (US) in the dust, brought victory in the
8-year war imposed by the US through Saddam in the 1980s, made I?
us master the nuclear fuel cycle, aerospace and stem cell technology,
and transformed Iranians into defenders of the oppressed in the
Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), on the salvation 4. I come off a beautiful
creature, which soars in the sky.
region and beyond Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain,
Afghanistan, Nigeria, Arabia, etc.
for mankind in the end times: I come off a peckish creature,
which has a tail as mighty as the
And the best way to safeguard this legacy is to turn out massively The world will not come to an end, until a man from my progeny and of my name shall be master of the world; when you sun! I am sometimes dirty, and
for the 12th presidential elections on Friday May 19 for casting our see a green ensign coming from the direction of Khorasan, then join them, for the Imam of God will be with the standards, parents beg you not to pick me
vote for the most qualified of the eligible candidates. and will be called al-Mahdi.
up. What am I?
Yes, dear youngsters, whether you are living in Iran and abroad,
as Iranian citizens, your precious vote matters. You should exercise 5. I am easy to waste and
unstoppable, what am I?
The Ox and the Frog
this right of yours to make sure that the right person is elected as the
Chief Executive of Iran. 6. I am not very commonly
Before you approach the ballot boxes, be sure you have properly found! Only in some rainforest!
An Ox, drinking at a pool, trod on a brood of young frogs, and crushed one of them to death.
analyzed the functioning of the government over the past few years, I have an odd number of toes!
The mother, coming up and missing one of her sons, inquired of his brothers what had become of him.
and which of the hopefuls in the current race is more dedicated to He is dead, dear mother; for just now a very huge beast with four great feet came to the pool, and crushed Im very lazy and hang upside
Islam, more loyal to the power and prestige of Iran, more sincere him to death with his cloven heel. down! What am I?
in serving the people, more devout in instilling Islamic and The Frog, puffing herself out, inquired, If the beast was as big as that in size.
revolutionary values into the next generation, more vigilant against Cease, mother, to puff yourself out, said her son, and do not be angry; for you would, I assure you, sooner
Answers to last week
the plots of the enemies, more determined to root out terrorism from burst than successfully imitate the hugeness of that monster.
the region, more steadfast to the ideals of Imam Khomeini (who MORAL: Impossible things we cannot hope to attain, and it is of no use to try. questions:
cautioned against vesting power in the wrong person), and more 1. Snake
eager to prepare the country for the eventual reappearance of Imam 2. Shadow
Mahdi (AS) and his global government.
We have a date with destiny, and our destiny, whether individual
JOKES 3. E
4. Boomerang
or collective, depends on our proper cognizance of facts and A woman is at a gas station when she noticed a spaceship landing in front of her. An alien stepped out of 5. Memory
realities, since according to hadith Iranians have a vital role to play the spaceship and started to pump gas into it. 6. S
in the government of the Saviour of Mankind. The woman noticed that UFO was printed on the side of the ship. She turned to the alien and asked
This means, Iran and the Iranians shouldnt behave as one of Doesnt UFO stand for unidentified flying object? The alien answered No, it stands for unleaded fuel
those spurious nation states of the contemporary fragmented world, only!
or be deceived by the glamour of western-style liberal democracy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and the sloganeering that goes with it, which might for a moment, A little girl is digging a hole in her yard. Her neighbour looks over the fence and asks her what shes doing.
Send your jokes. Heard any
She tells him, Im burying my goldfish.
amid emotions, appear attractive, but on further analysis are actually jokes lately? Well, try and make
The neighbour replies, Thats a mighty big hole for a little goldfish.
a sellout of our time-tested culture and national interests, in addition us laugh too!
The little girl smiles at him and says, Not if hes inside your cat.
to being a treason against Islam. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dont hesitate! Mail it to us.
So young friends, what is required at next Fridays presidential A panda walks into a restaurant and after thinking it over, the garcon lets him stay. The panda eats its dinner Kayhan International address:
polls, is your Basiji spirit that should rise above divisive and and asks for a check. Ferdowsi St., Shahid Shahcher-
factional tendencies, to elect the ideal executive head for the next He looks at the check, nods his head, and shoots the waiter in the knee. aghi Alley, Tehran.
four years. The garcon runs over and looks at the table. The panda had left an open dictionary of the table, turned to Email:kayhanintl@yahoo.com
Goodbye and God bless you, until we meet again next week. the page with panda on it.
He reads the description Panda; n. Large mammal from central Asia. Eats shoots and leaves.

Strikes Hit Greece Ahead
of New Austerity Vote
A street vendor selling bread rings waits for customers in Piraeus, near
Athens, on May 16, 2017.
ATHENS (Dispatches) -- Greek unions
Tuesday kicked off two days of labor action,
shutting down ferries and news services
ahead of a Wednesday general strike aimed
at a new round of austerity cuts.
Journalists walked off the job and sailors
began a two-day shutdown that severed
maritime links to the Greek islands.
Ferry services will be paralyzed Wednesday
during the 24-hour general strike that will also
shutter the civil service and disrupt flights.
The mobilization is aimed against new
pension and tax break cuts forced on Greece
by its EU-IMF creditors in return for bailout
cash.
The leftist government of Prime Minister
Alexis Tsipras grudgingly accepted to
legislate another round of pension cuts
U.S. Navy Seeks Expansion Against China, Russia
In this Feb. 4, 2014 file photo, Adm. John M. Richardson speaks during
a news conference at the Pentagon.
SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- The U.S. navy
needs to expand its fleet and maritime
capability to remain competitive as other
nations such as China and Russia seek to
strengthen their naval power, Chief of Naval
Operations Admiral John Richardson said
Tuesday.
We are getting back into, after decades
really, an era of maritime competition,
Richardson told reporters on the pier alongside
the USS Coronado at the Changi naval base.
Some of these global powers, China, Russia,
theyve been growing, China in particular.
French Right Furious Over Macrons Tactics
Frances newly appointed Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (R) walks
out his home in Paris on May 16, 2017 before going to the Hotel
Matignon.
PARIS (Reuters) -- A leading French
conservative accused President Emmanuel
Macron of dynamiting the political
landscape Tuesday as he put together a
government that is expected to include
former rivals on both left and right.
Macron wants to break through the left-
and lower tax breaks -- applicable in 2019
and 2020 respectively -- to unlock the cash
payment ahead of looming debt repayments
in July.
Athens hopes that the loan payment will be
approved by a meeting of eurozone finance
ministers on May 22.
The bill is to be approved late Thursday.
Greeces economy has slid back into
recession in the first quarter in 2017 at a
time when the country faces delays over the
approval of its latest bailout loan.
The weakness seen in the fourth quarter
continued but at a softer pace in the first
three months, said National Bank economist
Nikos Magginas.
Greeces gross domestic product (GDP)
shrank by 0.1% between January and March
Theyre maturing in every dimension of
power (and) at some point you turn to the sea
to expand and continue to prosper.
China last month launched its first
domestically built aircraft carrier amid rising
tension over U.S. military buildup in Asia and
intervention in the South China Sea.
The U.S. sides with by Brunei, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan in
challenging Chinas claims to the South China
Sea, through which about $5 trillion in sea-
borne trade passes every year.
Richardsons comments come ahead of
right divide that has dominated the euro
zones second-largest economy for decades,
and so is drawing in figures from outside
his year-old centrist Republic on the Move
(REM) party to complete his list of ministers,
expected Wednesday.
We want to bring people together, beyond
WORLD NEWS
compared to the final quarter of 2016 when
GDP had contracted by 1.2%.
Magginas said: Its an encouraging sign
given that up until February uncertainty over
the successful conclusion of a bailout review
remained high.
A country is officially in recession when its
economy falls for two consecutive quarters.
The Greek government hopes to vote
through future austerity measures by May 18
in return for the bailout cash being approved
on May 22.
The leftist-led government has revised this
years growth projection to 1.8% down from
2.7%. This comes after the EU Commission
cut its 2017 economic growth forecast for
Greece to 2.1% from 2.7%.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
said at the end of last week that it needed
more time to agree details of a deal on
Greeces debt relief - one of the conditions of
the organizations participation in the bailout
as creditor.
Greece is desperate for a cash injection to
make payments on bonds that mature this
summer.
The IMF has suggested that Greeces
debt to GDP ratio is unsustainable and that
austerity measures are holding back growth.
However, any debt relief was rebuffed after
strong opposition from Germany and other
eurozone nations.
In a report released by Moodys ratings
agency, experts claimed that the countrys
financial system was still heavily reliant on
bailout funds.
the release of the Future Navy White Paper
Wednesday at 1200 GMT.
Those who are challenging our interests are
advancing at rates that are much faster than
ours. To remain competitive, we must act now
- we need a larger, better fleet in the 2020s, not
the 2040s, said a Navy source familiar with
the White Paper.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been
seeking what he calls a historic increase in
military spending, but has run into opposition
in Congress.
This month he scored a partial win, getting a
commitment for up to $15 billion in additional
funding for a military buildup - about half of
what he originally asked for.
Richardson told Reuters in December that
the U.S. arms industry was ready and capable
of boosting production of new ships if Trump,
then president-elect, made good his campaign
vow to expand the navy to 350 ships from
about 290.
Its not just about numbers and platforms.
Its also about what those platforms can do
and then again how they all work together,
said Richardson.
Richardson said there were plans to
transition to more modern frigates in the near
future. Earlier in May, it was reported the
U.S. Navy had decided to delay by a year
until fiscal 2020 the awarding of a design
and construction contract for a planned new
frigate.
old divides that have become pointless,
REMs secretary-general Richard Ferrand
told France Inter radio.
The divide-and-conquer tactics by the
centrist Macron, elected on May 7, are
spreading alarm in the Socialist party and
the conservative Republicans (LR), both of
which are still licking their wounds after their
presidential defeat.
They fear he will poach more of their leading
figures as he tries to widen his political base
before crucial parliamentary elections in June.
In a sign of that concern, LR senior
lawmaker Francois Baroin disowned party
colleague Edouard Philippe for accepting
Macrons offer of the job of prime minister
Monday.
What Emmanuel Macron is proposing is
dynamiting not political reshaping, Baroin
told BFM TV.
Baroin is leading LRs campaign for the
parliamentary elections, which will be key for
his partys future as well as Macrons chances
of carrying out his pro-business, pro-EU
Ivory Coast Soldiers
Agree to End Mutiny
A mutinying soldier stands guard at the checkpoint of the entrance of
Bouake, Ivory Coast May 15, 2017.
BOUAK, Ivory Coast (AFP) -- Rebel
soldiers in Ivory Coast said Tuesday they
were ending a four-day mutiny which drew
in troops from across the country after
reaching agreement with the government
over a wages dispute.
News of the deal was confirmed by a
spokesman for the disgruntled troops, who
said their financial demands had been met,
ending a dispute which began in January.
We have found a basis for agreement.
We are returning to barracks, Sergeant
Cisse Fousseni told AFP, ending the latest
round of unrest which began early Friday.
Another spokesman said details of the
deal were top secret but others confirmed
that the mutineers demands had been fully
met.
The mutiny, which sowed disruption
across the worlds top cocoa-producing
nation, saw soldiers firing angrily into the
air and heavy gunfire in Ivory Coasts two
biggest cities, in which one person died.
Heavy gunfire erupted on Monday at the
countrys largest military barracks in eastern
Abidjan, Ivory Coasts economic capital, as
well as in Gallieni camp in the city center
where banks, offices and department stores
were closed.
Troops also seized control of Bouake,
the countrys second city, where sustained
gunfire rang out. And border posts were
closed, halting traffic to neighboring Mali,
Burkina Faso and Niger.
The mutiny was the latest in a series of
armed protests which began in January
in the West African country, with troops
Ukraine Blocks Russian
Social Networks
KIEV (Dispatches) -- Ukraine Tuesday
blocked popular Russian social
networks and an internet search engine
as it expanded sanctions against the
Kremlin for its alleged backing of a
three-year war in the separatist east.
President Petro Poroshenko signed a
decree banning access to VK -- often
referred to as Russias Facebook -- and
Ukraines version of the popular Yandex
search engine.
It also cut access to the Mail.ru email
provider, the Odnoklassniki (Classmates)
social network as well as the Moscow-
based Kaspersky Lab cyber security and
anti-virus provider.
The bans apply for three years.
Kiev has been gradually expanding its
policies.
Benoit Hamon, who gathered just over six
percent of the votes for the Socialist Party in
the first round of the presidential election in
April, said left-wingers did not belong in the
upcoming government.
Who can think that the Left will pull itself
together if it is part of a coalition led by a
member of The Republicans party? he said.
But the list of those tipped to be part of
the government included veteran Socialists,
as well as conservatives, centrists and
newcomers to French politics. Macron
has said he wants a team of maximum 15
ministers, fewer than in the outgoing Socialist
administration.
Initially expected for late Tuesday, the
announcement of who will be part of
the government was postponed to 3 p.m.
Wednesday (1300 GMT). The presidents
office said Macron wanted to allow time
for thorough checks on the ministers
background, including their tax situation, and
avoid conflicts of interest.
May 17, 2017
angered by a wage dispute with President
Alassane Ouattaras government.
That uprising ended when the government
agreed to pay the soldiers bonuses of 12
million CFA francs (18,000 euros) each.
At the time, they were given a partial
payment of 5.0 million francs with the
remainder due to be paid this month.
But the last payment never materialized,
prompting the latest round of unrest.
According to sources among the rebel
soldiers, the government has now agreed
to give them an immediate payment of 5.0
million CFA francs with the remaining 2.0
million to be paid next month.
With the agreement, the soldiers have
now secured everything which had been
promised in January, one source told AFP.
The city of Bouake served as the rebel
headquarters following a failed coup in
2002 which split Ivory Coast in half and led
to years of unrest.
Ouattara took office in 2011 after months
of deadly election violence in which more
than 8,000 rebels supported him against
troops backing ex-head-of-state Laurent
Gbagbo, who refused to concede defeat at
the ballot box.
Many of the rebels subsequently joined
the regular army, which currently numbers
some 22,000 troops.
After years of unrest, the former French
colony has been slowly regaining its
credentials as a West African powerhouse
and a haven of peace and prosperity. But
falling cocoa prices have hobbled the
governments finances.
list of banned Russian products and people
forbidden from entering the country for
either voicing support for the Kremlins
March 2014 annexation of Crimea or
the self-proclaimed independence of
Ukraines east.
Numerous Russian movies and
television series have been forbidden. The
ban also covers some books.
The West strongly supports Kievs war
on the insurgent eastern industrial regions
of Lugansk and Donetsk that has claimed
more than 10,000 lives.
The war began less than two months
after massive street protests toppled a
Russian-backed president in February
2014.
Human rights groups have voiced
criticism of Ukraines decision to apply
its sanctions against various forms of
cultural entertainment as a violation of
free speech.
The immediate reaction to Poroshenkos
decision in Ukraine itself was strongly
negative.
Hello, North Korea, 112 rolling news
channel editor Vitaliy Prudyus wrote on
Facebook.
VK, formerly known as VKontakte, is
Russias most popular social network. Its
official Ukraine page wrote in February
that it gets 16 million unique visitors daily
in Ukraine.
The sanctions already in place nearly
overshadowed the Eurovision Song
Contest that concluded at the weekend in
Kiev.
Ukraine banned Russias contestant for
staging a performance in Crimea a year
after its annexation.
Russia responded by refusing to air the
kitschy competition and organizers have
warned Ukraine that it may be forbidden
from taking part in upcoming events for
its actions.
5
BEIJING (AP) -- China appears
to be laying the groundwork for the
mass collection of DNA samples
from residents of a restive, largely
Muslim region thats been under a
security crackdown, rights observers
and independent experts said
Tuesday.
Police in western Chinas Xinjiang
region confirmed to The Associated
Press that they are in the process of
purchasing at least $8.7 million in
equipment to analyze DNA samples.
Observers from Human Rights
Watch said theyve seen evidence
of almost $3 million in additional
purchases related to DNA testing.
They warned such a collection
program could be used as a way for
authorities to beef up their political
control.
****
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
on Tuesday said Congress could do
with fewer presidential distractions
amid reports of U.S. President
Donald Trumps disclosure of
intelligence information to Russia
and the White Houses subsequent
rebuttal.
We could do with a little less
drama from the White House on a
lot of things so we can focus on our
agenda, which is deregulation, tax
reform and repealing and replacing
Obamacare, the top Senate
Republican said in an interview with
Bloomberg Television.
***
BRADFORD, United Kingdom
(AFP) -- Britains opposition Labor
Party pledged to raise taxes on the
well-off, renationalize key industries
and end austerity in its manifesto
Tuesday, presenting voters with their
starkest choice in decades in next
months election.
Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn
called the program radical and
responsible, saying the country had
been run for the rich, the elite and
the vested interests in seven years
of Conservative government. It will
change our country, he will say in
his speech at the presentation of the
manifesto in Bradford in northwest
England, according to extracts
released by the partys press office.
***
CARACAS/SAN CRISTOBAL
(Dispatches) -- Opponents of
President Nicolas Maduro staged sit-
ins and roadblocks across Venezuela
Monday, sparking new unrest and a
death in the border state of Tachira.
Luis Alviarez, 18, was killed during
riots in the volatile western state,
according to the state ombudsmans
office. That brought the death toll
in six weeks of protest to at least 39.
Maduro accuses rioters of seeking a
violent coup. Rioters have resorted to
extreme tactics, including throwing
excrement at security forces.
***
MEXICO CITY (AFP) -- An award-
winning local journalist and Agence
France-Presse contributor who
reported on violent drug gangs in
Mexico was shot dead in the street
Monday, a court source told AFP.
Javier Valdez, 50, was shot near the
premises of Riodoce, a Mexican news
weekly he founded, in his hometown
of Culiacan in northwestern Sinaloa
state, the source said. Valdez was the
fifth journalist killed this year in a
country plagued by drug violence
and corruption, according to
officials and media rights groups.
 6 May 17, 2017

Islamic Solidarity Games: Iran Come Third at

Asian Beach Handball
Weightlifter Asgari Takes Silver Championship
Norouziyan Claims Gold at 50m
Rifle 3 Postition
Pourya Norouziyan took the top
honors for Irans seventh gold medal
of the Islamic Solidarity Games on
Tuesday.
Norouziyan won the gold medal in
the 50m Rifle 3 Position competition
with 454.6 Points.
His compatriot Hossein Bagheri
settled for silver with 451.1 points.
The bronze medal went to Hamed Al
Khatri from Oman who scored 440.3
points.

TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Iranian
weightlifter Majid Asgari has claimed
a silver medal at the 4th Islamic
Solidarity Games in Baku.
The 69kg participant lifted 139kg in
the snatch and 177kg in clean and jerk
for a total of 316kg.
The gold medal went to Daniyar
Ismayilov from Turkey for a total
of 323kg and Uzbekistans Doston
Yokubov claimed bronze medal with
314kg.
Women Shooters Win Medal
Shooter Golnoush Sebghatollahi
claimed a gold medal at the Islamic
Solidarity Games on Tuesday.
She claimed Irans sixth gold medal
at the Womens 10m Air Pistol at the
Baku Shooting Centre.
And also, Iranian trio shooters
Najmeh Khedmati, Elaheh Ahmadi
and Mahlagha Jambozorg had won
the gold, silver and bronze medal at
the womens 50m rifle 3 positions of
the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in
Baku on Monday.
Narjes Andevari Emamgholinejad in
the 10-metre air rifle, karate fighters
Nasrin Dousti and Sajjad Ganjzadeh,
judoka Saeid Mollaei have previously
won five gold medals for Iran.
Afaf Elhodhod from Egypt ranked
second in the event and Azerbaijans
shooter Nigar Nasirova won a bronze
medal respectively.
Para Athletes Claim Silver, Bronze
Para athletes Javid Ehsani Shakib
and Javad Dalakeh won two medals
at event on Tuesday.
Ehsani Shakib came second in
Mens Shot Put F57 after throwing
13.74 meters.
Dalakeh seized the bronze medal
with a throw of 13.06 meters.
Samir Nabiyev from Azerbaijan
won the gold medal with a throw of
13.95m.
More than 3,000 athletes from 54
countries of the Islamic Solidarity
Sports Federation are competing in
21 sports at the Games.
The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity
Asian Womens U-23 Volleyball
Games started May 8 and will last
until May 22 in Azerbaijans capital.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) Iran has won
the bronze medal of the 2017 Asian
Beach Handball Championship.
The Iranian team defeated
Vietnam 2-1 (15-10, 16-20, 8-6)
and claimed the bronze medal in
Pattaya, Thailand.
Iran had already lost to Vietnam in
Group stage.
Iran also booked a place at the
Vietnam Beat Irans Women
Volleyballers in Asian Championship
TEHRAN (Tasnim) Iran suffered
a 3-0 defeat to Vietnam at the 2017
tournament organized by the
Championship on Tuesday.
The Iranian team, who defeated
Malaysia (3-0) and New Zealand
(3-0), lost to Vietnam in straight
2018 IHF World Beach Handball
Championships in Sochi, Russia.
In the final match, Qatar defeated
Oman 2-0 (15-14, 17-10) and won
the title.
The tournament brought a total of
nine teams together.
The top three teams qualified
for the Beach Handball World
Championship.
Volleyball Championship is a
biennial international volleyball
Asian Volleyball Confederation
(AVC) with Thailand Volleyball
Association (TVA).
The tournament will serve as the

Veteran Iranian Wrestler Passes Away at 86 sets (25-19, 25-17, 25-19) at the
Mall Nakhon Ratchasimas MCC
Asian qualifiers for the 2017 FIVB
Volleyball Womens U-23 World
Hall. Championship held in Ljubljana
TEHRAN (Press TV) - Veteran Iranian on Monday, and died at his home in the Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. The Iranian sportsman ranked Sima Sedighis girls will play and Maribor, Slovenia with the top
wrestler, head coach of the Irans national Iranian capital city of Tehran. He also competed at the 1956 Summer fifth at the 1954 World Wrestling Japan on Wednesday. two ranked teams qualifying for the
Greco-Roman wrestling teams and The late Iranian freestyle wrestler, Olympics, which was held in Australias Championships in Tokyo. The 2017 Asian Womens U-23 world championship.
international wrestling referee Nasser who was born on November 12, second-most populous city. Givehchi He won the bronze medal of the

Japans Mitsuhashi Banned

Givehchi has passed away at the age of 86. 1932, claimed the second spot in the finished sixth in the 62-kilogram weight 62-kilogram category at the 1958 Asian
Givehchi lost a long battle with disease featherweight division of the 1952 division. Games in Tokyo, Japan.

for Life From Tennis for

Roger Federer Will Skip French Open, Eyes
Grass-Court Season
MADRID (Dispatches) - After
spending a few days practicing on
clay courts in Switzerland, a healthy
and well-rested Roger Federer
settled on his upcoming schedule:
He will bypass the French Open and
turn his focus to Wimbledon, then
the U.S. Open.
It was a tough decision to
take, because he likes to play the
French Open, likes to play the big
tournaments, Severin Luthi, who
coaches Federer, said in a telephone
interview with The Associated Press
on Monday. But I think it was
the best decision for him. Its an
investment in his career _ for this
season and for the coming seasons.
Federer posted a message entitled
Roger to skip Roland Garros on
his website on Monday, announcing
that he will stay away from
competing on clay entirely in 2017
and instead will prepare for the
grass- and hard-court events that
follow.
Its the second year in a row that
Federer pulled out of the French
Open, where main-draw play begins
in Paris on May 28. He won the title
at the clay-court major in 2009 to
complete a career Grand Slam.
His absence a year ago, because of
back and knee problems that plagued
him in 2016, ended his record streak
of appearing in 65 consecutive
Match-Fixing
Grand Slam tournaments _ every
one since the start of 2000.
The 35-year-old Federer has not
played in a tournament since April 2,
when he won his third title of 2017
at the Miami Open and improved
his record this year to 19-1, all on
hard courts, his best start in more
than a decade. At the time, he said
he would be taking a break from the
tour and did not commit to returning
in time for the French Open.

Celtics Power Past Wizards in Game 7, 115-105

WASHINGTON (Dispatches) - Isaiah
Thomas scored 29 points and had 12
assists, Kelly Olynyk scored a career
playoff high 26 points as the Boston
Celtics beat the Washington Wizards
115-105 in Game 7 of the Eastern
Conference semifinals on Monday.
Celtics advances to the Eastern
Conference finals, where it will host
the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 on
Wednesday.
Everyone gave their best tonight and
it turned out well, Olynyk said. It was
a team effort, hard work. It was a tough
seven-game series. Both teams played
hard, we outlasted them there. They are
a great team. They made big shots all
series.
Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas shot between Wizards guard John Wall, Boston got 15 points, six rebounds
left, and center Marcin Gortat during the first quarter of Game 7 of a and five assists from Al Horford. 13
second-round NBA playoff series Monday. points, six rebounds and four assists
form Marcus Smart. Bradley Beal
scored a game-high 38 points for the
Wizards, including 24 in the second
half. Otto Porter added 20 points. John
Wall and Markieff Morris each finished
with 18.
I hate losing, especially when we feel
like we were a better team. This definitely
hurts the most. Beal said after the loss.
Boston trailed 76-72 late in the third
quarter before ending the period on a
13-3 run, which was expanded to 22-5 in
the opening minutes of the fourth as the
Celtics lead became 94-81. But Wizards
scored seven straight in just 51 seconds to
get back within six before Olynyk taking
over as he scored 11 of 13 points for the
Celtics to stretch their lead to 110-100.
Kelly was the MVP tonight, Thomas
said, Im definitely going to enjoy it until
tomorrow. Weve got to get ready for the
defending champs. Good thing about it,
weve got home court advantage.
Japanese tennis player Junn Mitsuhashi has been banned for life for
match-fixing and gambling offences
TOKYO (Dispatches) - Japanese in a singles match and $600 in
tennis player Junn Mitsuhashi has a doubles match, the TIU said.
been banned for life and fined Chetty was banned for life last
$50,000 after being found guilty of September following a separate
match-fixing and betting offences, TIU investigation.
the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) said Mitsuhashi was also found guilty
on Tuesday. of making a direct approach to
Mitsuhashi, who peaked at 295 in another player at an ITF event in
the singles rankings in 2009, was Nigeria in December 2015 and
accused of asking Joshua Chetty, a asking him to fix certain aspects of
player he had coached, to approach a match.
a competitor during an International The 27-year-old placed 76 bets
Tennis Federation (ITF) event in on tennis matches between October
South Africa in November 2015. and November 2015 and refused to
Using Chetty as an intermediary, cooperate with the anti-corruption
Mitsuhashi offered the player bodys investigation, which are also
$2,000 (1,550) to underperform offences.

Nearly 30 Million Children Across
Arab World Live in Poverty
NEW YORK (Dispatches) One in
four children in the Arab world lives
in poverty and is deprived of basic
necessities, a study conducted by the
United Nations childrens agency says,
adding 29 million Arab children were
living in poverty.
The UNICEF study, which is
based on the analysis of 11 countries
including Egypt, Iraq, Morocco and
Yemen, said lack of education was
a key driver of poverty among the
youth.
Children who live in households
that are headed by an uneducated
family member are twice as likely
to live in poverty. One quarter of
children aged 5 to 17 are not enrolled
in school or have fallen two grades
behind, the UNICEF study found.
Arthur van Diesen, UNICEFs
social policy adviser for the Middle
East and North Africa, said the
children had often been deprived of
the most basic necessities such as
proper housing or safe water across
the region.
When we talk about poverty
we think about income ... but for
children its about things like having
access to education, decent housing,
quality health care, nutrition, water
and sanitation.
Commenting on the study, Adel
Abdel Ghafar, a political economist
at the Brookings Doha Center think
tank, said many of the poorest
Syria Rejects U.S. Crematorium Allegation
DAMASCUS (Dispatches)
Syria has categorically rejected
Washingtons accusation that
Damascus has constructed a prison-
based crematorium to burn the bodies
of thousands of alleged executed
detainees, saying the unfounded
claim is in fact a new Hollywood
story made to further interfere in the
internal affairs of the Arab country.
As it is habitual of successive
U.S. administrations to fabricate
lies and allegations to justify their
aggressive and interventionist
policies in other sovereign
countries, what came out from
the current U.S. administration is
just a new Hollywood screenplay
disconnected from reality, said
the Syrian Foreign Ministry in a
statement carried by the official
SANA news agency on Tuesday.
Turkey Issues Arrest Warrants for 85 Ministry Staff in Post-Coup Probe
This image obtained from Dogan News Agency (DHA) shows Turkish police
officers escorting people after their arrest for alleged links with US-based cleric
Fethullah Gulen on April 26, 2017 in the central city of Kayseri.
ANKARA Prosecutors in
Turkey have issued arrest warrants
for 85 staff at two ministries as part
of a probe targeting the alleged
network of U.S.-based opposition
cleric Fethullah Gulen whom
UNICEF:
Yemeni children walk holding plastic containers to fill with water in an impoverished coastal village on the
outskirts of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, April 17, 2017.
children were in rural areas.
Developing these areas would
alleviate poverty and also stop
the pressure because a lot of these
people cant find jobs, cant find
opportunities, then they move to a
city and put further pressure on the
infrastructure of cities, Reuters
quoted Ghafar as saying.
Reacting to the study, Abdel Ghafar
said this created the lost generation
The ministrys response came a
day after the U.S. Department of
State, citing the U.S. intelligence
community and some credible
humanitarian agencies, accused the
Syrian government of cremating
the bodies of inmates killed in
extrajudicial executions in the
Saydnaya military prison, located
some 30 kilometers north of the
capital Damascus, in order to cover
up the extent of mass murders taking
place in the detention facility.
It also distributed a satellite photo,
dated April 2017, which allegedly
shows the Saydnaya complex,
naming some parts of it, including a
probable crematorium.
Syria has in the past strongly denied
any abuse at Saydnaya. Earlier
this year, Damascus dismissed
as baseless a report by Amnesty
Ankara accuses of masterminding
the July 2016 failed coup.
The detainees are staff at the
energy and education ministries,
broadcaster CNN Turk reported
on Tuesday without giving further
MIDDLE EAST
of young people lacking the right
skills for the workforce. What they
suffer from now will have a carryover
effect for the next decade or two.
In mid-April, UNICEF warned
that the ongoing Saudi aggression
against Yemen may deprive a whole
generation of children of education.
The UN has said that a Yemeni
child under five dies around every
10 minutes from preventable causes
International about mass hanging at
the prison.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry, while
strongly condemning the accusation,
further said that such allegations
were totally unfounded.
They are nothing but the
product of the imagination of this Province claimed the lives of 12
administration and its agents, it
added.
The ministry also said that the new
accusation was in line with previous
baseless allegations that Washington
leveled against the Syrian
government, including Damascus
alleged use of explosive barrels
and chemical weapons against the
opposition in the Arab country.
The new allegation by the United
States against the Syrian government
came on the same day that, according
to the so-called Syrian Observatory
details.
The news comes a day after a
court jailed the online editor of the
opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet
pending trial on a charge of
spreading terrorist propaganda,
the daily said.
Editor Oguz Guven joined a
score of Cumhuriyet journalists
already in jail facing sentences
of up to 43 years in prison over
alleged ties to Gulen.
Turkish officials say over 240
people were killed and more than
2,100 others injured in the failed
coup, which was swiftly put down
as tens of thousands of people
flooded the streets across Turkey
to support the government.
Ankara has accused Gulen
of orchestrating the abortive
putsch. The opposition figure is
also accused of being behind a
long-running campaign to topple
the government via infiltrating
countrys institutions, particularly
such as starvation, poor sanitation or
lack of medical care.
Over two years of Saudi Arabias
war on the impoverished country
has put more than half of all health
facilities in Yemen in a state of
complete or partial shutdown.
Latest tallies show that the Saudi
war on Yemen has killed over 12,000
Yemenis and wounded thousands
more since March 2015.
for Human Rights, U.S.-led airstrikes
in Syrias eastern province of Dayr
al-Zawr near the border with Iraq
killed at least 23 displaced civilians.
On Saturday, another aerial
aggression carried out by the U.S.-
led military coalition in Raqqah
women.
Earlier on May 9, nearly a dozen
people, including four children
and six women, lost their lives and
several others sustained injuries
when U.S.-led warplanes bombarded
al-Salihiya village in northern Syria.
The U.S.-led coalition has been
conducting airstrikes against
what are said to be positions of
the Daesh terrorists inside Syria
since September 2014 without any
authorization from the Damascus
government or a UN mandate.
the army, police and the judiciary.
Turkey has also outlawed the
Gulen movement, branding
it as Fethullah Terrorist
Organization.
Ankara has so far arrested 50,000
people and sacked or suspended
some 150,000 others, including
military personnel, judges and
teachers, over suspected links to
Gulen, as part of the post-coup
crackdown.
Many rights groups have
denounced Ankaras heavy
clampdown.
Gulen has also censured the
coup attempt and strongly denied
any involvement in the violence.
Turkey remains in a state of
emergency since the coup.
Turkish President Tayyip
Erdogan, who is meeting his
U.S. counterpart Donald Trump
in Washington on Tuesday, has
repeatedly called for Gulens
extradition.
May 17, 2017 7
Wall ...
(Continued From Page One)
Trump and Salman will be meeting for the first time in Saudi Arabia
Saturday for bilateral talks aimed at repairing relations that were strained
under the Obama administration. Saudi Arabia views Trumps visit as a
way to shore up support among its allies and with Washington against Iran.
Salman praised Trump in a telephone call in April, describing him as
courageous for authorizing a U.S. military strike on a Syrian airbase
following a chemical attack there. He also dispatched his son and the
second-in-line to the throne, Prince Muhammad bin Salman, to Washington
for a meeting with Trump in March and appointed another as ambassador
to Washington to strengthen ties under Trump.
Trump is also expected to meet separately with the Arab rulers of the six-
nation Persian Gulf Cooperation Council during his visit to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led GCC includes the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait,
Oman and Bahrain, which is host to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet.
The Saudi monarch said the bilateral U.S.-Saudi talks will strengthen
relations between the two countries.
He said the subsequent U.S.-GCC talks will contribute to consolidating
their solidarity. All of the GCC countries except Oman are part of a Saudi
coalition that has been bombing Yemen for more than two years. Washington
has backed the coalition with logistical and intelligence support.
Reformist ...
(Continued From Page One)
Turning to the economy, Raisi said, The situation should neither return
to how it used to be, nor should it be tolerated as it is.
He also said a favorable attitude toward foreign governments was
wrongful, adding his potential government would engage in interaction
with all countries, especially neighbors, while retaining its authority and
status.
Iran will simultaneously hold its 12th presidential election and the 5th city
and village council elections on May 19.
Defense Minister Brigadier General Hussein Dehqan said on Tuesday a
high voter turnout in the forthcoming presidential election will be a main
deterrent factor in the face of threats posed to the Islamic Republic.
Describing the Middle Easts status quo as sensitive and complicated,
the Iranian defense minister said the U.S., the Israeli regime and Saudi
Arabia were hatching dangerous plots to prolong regional crises, war and
bloodshed within the framework of an Arab NATO.
We will be able to thwart such an evil plot by displaying our unity,
solidarity and national power in the upcoming election, Dehqan said.
He emphasized that the Iranian nations participation in the election
would be a strong support for the Armed Forces in their attempts to defend
the country and would boost their morale.
Iran ...
(Continued From Page One)
The first source familiar with Iranian thinking said it was necessary to
support prices to ensure there is enough investment in supplies to avoid
shortages in future, echoing a view often expressed by Saudi Arabia.
Low oil prices may bring satisfaction for some consuming countries in
the short run, but in the long term as a result of reduced investment in new
oil production, they could end up paying a much higher price for a barrel
of oil, he said.
The second source also saw a modest price recovery as likely in the
summer months when U.S. gasoline demand seasonally rises, citing factors
such as a likely drawdown in inventories.
Life ...
(Continued From Page 2)
The hospital I work in is a Jewish hospital, for example, but more than 95
percent of both our personnel and patients are Muslim, he added.
Elsewhere in his comments, the lawmaker pointed out that Jewish children,
who go to Iranian public schools, are allowed to stay at home on Saturday if
they want to observe the Sabbath, the holy Jewish day.
Moreover, Moreh Sedgh drew a difference between being a Jew and a Zionist,
saying some Jews were critical of the behavior of the Israeli regime and army.
Invading other countries and killing innocent people are not Moses
teachings, he said.
About 9,000 Jews are said to be living in Iran.
UAE Deploys Military Forces
to Yemeni Island for Training
ABU DHABI (Dispatches) four Indian Ocean islands, lies
The United Arab Emirates says it about 240 kilometers east of the
has deployed military recruits to Horn of Africa and 380 kilometers
Yemens strategic Socotra Island for south of the Arabian Peninsula.
training purposes. The island was part of Yemens
The UAEs official WAM Hadhramaut Province but was
news agency reported that the introduced as an independent
intensive training program governorate in a 2013 decree by
included exercises to enhance Hadi.
battle skills, weapons use, and Saudi Arabia has been leading a
first aid. brutal military campaign against
Emirati forces and aid Yemen for more than two years to
organizations have been stationed reinstall the Riyadh-friendly Hadi.
on Socotra Island since November The Saudi military campaign has,
2015. however, failed to achieve its
Last February, reports suggested goals.
that Yemens former president, Saudi Arabia receives backing
Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, had in the war from a number of its
rented out Socotra to the UAE for client states, including the UAE.
99 years in an attempt to get Abu There have, however, been some
Dhabis support amid the conflict indications that Saudi Arabia and
gripping the impoverished country. the UAE disagree on a number of
Last month, an Emirati airline issues over the war on Yemen.
reportedly launched flights The protracted war has already
between Abu Dhabi and Socotra. killed over 12,000 Yemenis,
Socotra, a small archipelago of according to recent tallies.
 Hamas Discloses Identity of Key
Commanders Murderer
WEST BANK (Dispatches) The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has
revealed the identity of the man responsible for the assassination of one of its
high-ranking military commanders in the Gaza Strip earlier this year.
Assistant Military Attorney General Fadl al-Jadili told Arabic-language Safa
news agency that the first hearings for the three men accused of killing Mazen
Fuqahaa were held in Gaza City today.
VOL NO: LV 10323 TEHRAN / Est.1959
UN-Brokered Syria
Talks Held in Geneva
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (2nd-R) and Syrian government negotiator Bashar
Jaafari (3rd-L) attend a meeting during Syrian talks at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, May 16, 2017.
GENEVA (Dispatches) The sixth
round of Syrian talks has been held under
the auspices of the United Nations in the
Swiss city of Geneva as part of efforts
to facilitate a political resolution of the
deadly conflict in the Arab country.
The five previous rounds of the
UN-mediated negotiations in Geneva
brought together representatives
from the Damascus government and
opposition groups but failed to yield
concrete results.
Syrias warring sides have also
attended four rounds of talks brokered
by Iran, Russia and Turkey in the Kazakh
Saudi War, Blockade Blamed for Cholera
Outbreak in Yemen
RIYADH (Dispatches) The
Saudi-led war on and embargo
against Yemen are behind a cholera
epidemic that has claimed the
lives of more than 180 people
in the impoverished country so
far, international organizations,
including the United Nations and
the Red Cross, say.
The International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) said 11,000
confirmed cases of cholera had been
reported in the country, describing
the situation as catastrophic.
Dominik Stillhart, the ICRCs
director of operations, said the
hospitals he had personally visited
in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, were
really struggling to cope with the
increasing number of patients.
Stillhart said 160 hospitals and
other medical facilities had been
demolished, mostly in Saudi military
attacks, seriously weakening the
health system.
He also said the Saudi aerial and
naval blockade on Yemen was one
of the main causes of the famine
and poverty, which in turn provided
a breeding ground for the cholera
epidemic as it hindered the transport
capital, Astana. The Astana talks have
most recently produced a memorandum
of understanding on de-escalation zones
in Syria, sharply reducing fighting in the
country.
The agreement also envisages the
creation of conditions for the delivery
of medical assistance, the restoration of
damaged infrastructure, and the return of
displaced civilians to their homes.
At a news conference in Geneva
on Monday, UN Special Envoy for
Syria Staffan de Mistura stressed that
the Astana and Geneva talks on the
settlement of the Syrian crisis worked
of goods and medicine into the
country.
Stillhart also said the Saudi
war had led to the collapse of the
economy in Yemen and had made
it very costly to move merchandise
across the country through different
front-lines.
The ICRCs second-in-command
stressed that the Red Cross had
repeatedly called on the conflict
participants to allow full access to
all areas for humanitarian aid.
He also estimated that more than 17
million Yemenis, two-thirds of the
population, required humanitarian
aid, and 10 million were in acute
need of food supplies.
Meanwhile, Sara Tesorieri, with
the Norwegian Refugee Council,
said the collapse of the economy in
Yemen had led to civil servants not
being paid for eight months, which
subsequently affected basic services
such as sanitation.
She said that garbage-laden water
has been running through the streets
of Sanaa when it rains, providing
the perfect conditions for the spread
of cholera.
Cholera is preventable. If you
in tandem.
The talks started after the terrorist
group of Daesh detonated two car bombs
at a refugee camp in Syria, close to the
countrys border with Jordan, killing at
least 15 people.
Several others were also injured in the
late Monday blasts at the Rukban camp,
Reuters reported.
The camp, which also accommodates
terrorists, is reportedly policed by the
so-called Jaish Ahrar al-Ashair terrorist
group.
One blast occurred near a restaurant
and the second at the camps market.
A Yemeni woman, suspected of being infected with cholera, receives
treatment at a hospital in Sanaa, May 15, 2017.
have the health systems and the
response in place, you can control
its spread, but the systems here
have just been decimated. And the
authorities dont have the capacity
that they had even four months
ago to deal with this, Tesorieri
said from Sanaa, where a state of
emergency has been declared.
People are not able to buy water
thats pure, Jamie McGoldrick, the
UN humanitarian coordinator in
Yemen, said, adding We are just
not able to see how we can turn this
Wednesday, May 17, 2017, Ordibehesht 27, 1396, Shaban 20, 1438
The U.S.-based SITE intelligence
group said Daesh had claimed
responsibility for the attacks through its
Amaq media arm.
The camp was hit several times with
terror attacks since last year.
Meanwhile, the Turkish army is
mulling the establishment of a military
base close to the Syrian city of al-Bab,
says deputy prime minister.
On Monday, Veysi Kaynak told
reporters that Turkish General Staff is
considering Aqil Hill, west of al-Bab,
for the location of base.
After capturing the strategic location
in February, the Turkish army has been
using it as a temporary command post,
but now seeks to establish something
more permanent.
Kaynak, who was making the remarks
following a trip from trip to Bosnia
and Herzegovina, noted that since
announcing of the end of its Euphrates
Shield operation the number of troops
stationed in the area has been reduced
from 8,000 to 1,500.
On March 29, Turkish Prime Minister
Binali Yildirim announced the end of the
countrys Euphrates Shield operation on
Syrian soil.
In August 2016, Turkey began the
major military intervention in Syria,
sending tanks and warplanes across the
border. Ankara claimed that its military
campaign was aimed at pushing Daesh
from Turkeys border with Syria and
stopping the advance of Kurdish forces,
but Damascus denounced the operation
as a breach of its sovereignty.
around quickly. And time is of the
essence, because cholera does not
wait for anybody.
Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia
has been leading a number of its
vassal states in a brutal campaign
against Yemen in an attempt to
reinstall Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi,
a former president of Yemen who
was Riyadh-friendly.
According to the latest tallies, the
Saudi-led war on Yemen has so far
killed over 12,000 Yemenis and
wounded thousands more.
Thought for Today
If you cannot get things as much as you desire then
be contented with what you have.
Battle for Mosul
Iraq Army:
Nearly Won
BAGHDAD (Dispatches) Iraqi
forces have dislodged Daesh
terrorists from all but 12 square km
of Mosul, a military spokesman said
on Tuesday, after planes dropped
leaflets into the city telling civilians
the battle was nearly won.
Seven months into the U.S.-
backed campaign, the terrorists now
control only a few districts in the
western half of Mosul including the
Old City, where Daesh is expected
to make its last stand.
The Iraqi government is pushing
to declare victory by the holy
month of Ramadan, expected to
begin on May 27, even if pockets
of resistance remain in the Old City,
according to military commanders.
A spokesman for the U.S.-led
coalition backing Iraqi forces
said the enemy was completely
surrounded in the city and its
fighters and resources were being
destroyed.
The enemy is on the brink of total
defeat in Mosul, U.S. Air Force
Colonel John Dorrian told a news
Afghan Forces Recapture Key
District From Taliban in Kunduz
Afghan security personnel keep watch during fighting between Taliban
militants and Afghan forces in Kunduz on May 10, 2017.
KABUL (Dispatches) Afghan
forces have recaptured a key district
in the northern province of Kunduz
from the Taliban militant group,
which has stepped up its deadly
attacks against government and
civilian targets in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, the National Security
Forces (ANSF) regained control of
the Qala-e-Zal district, which had
fallen to Taliban militants 10 days
ago, Army Special Forces Battalion
commander, Satar Andarabi was
cited as saying in local media.
The recapture came after Afghan
forces launched a major operation
against Taliban positions early in the
morning and engaged the militants
in fierce battles.
Andarabi added that Afghan
troops are currently clearing the
area of mines and leftover Taliban
militants, who announced the start
of it so-called spring offensive in
late April.
There are no reports of casualty
figures so far. The Taliban have not
commented on the report yet.
Afghanistans Interior Ministry
also confirmed the recapture of
Qala-e-Zal in an offensive that
began at 6:00 a.m. local time from
the nearby Aqtapa village.
Around 2,000 families have been
displaced, with most relocating in
Amir al-Momeneen Ali (AS)
conference in Baghdad.
With the help of advisers and
air strikes by the coalition, Iraqi
forces have made rapid gains since
opening a new front in the northwest
of Mosul earlier this month, closing
in on the Old City.
The Old Citys warren of densely
packed houses and alleys is the
most complex battleground and
home to the al-Nuri mosque from
which Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-
Baghdadi proclaimed a caliphate
spanning Iraq and Syria in 2014.
We reassure everyone that ...
in a very short time, God willing,
we will declare the liberation and
clearing of west Mosul and raise
the Iraqi flag over ... the Old City,
said spokesman Brigadier General
Yahya Rasool.
Outnumbered, the terrorists have
snipers embedded among the
hundreds of thousands of civilians
trapped in west Mosul. Many
people have been killed by terrorists
or heavy bombardments.
Kunduz city. Some have also fled to
other nearby districts, Assadullah
Sadat, a member of the Kunduz
provincial council, told AFP.
The Taliban briefly seized Kunduz
City in September 2015, in their
biggest victory since they were
toppled from national power by a
U.S.-led invasion in 2001. They
were able to briefly re-enter the city
center in October 2016 before once
again being pushed back.
Elsewhere in the eastern province
of Kunar, Taliban militants launched
a rocket attack that hit a market in
the provincial capital, Asad Abad,
killing two employees of the
department of communications.
Intense skirmishes have erupted
between Taliban militants and
government forces in different
areas from the northern province
of Badakhshan to Helmand and
Kandahar in the south since the
militant group announced the start
of its annual offensive.
Over 1,000 members of Afghan
security forces as well as over 700
civilians have so far been killed
during the violence this year,
according to Afghan authorities
and figures cited by the U.S.-based
Congressional watchdog Special
Inspector General for Afghanistan
Reconstruction (SIGAR).