Short news updates for Tuesday, September 11, 2018. Read the most important news from Iran and the world on the twentieth day of Shahrivar 1397 here moment by moment.
The number of hungry people in the world has reached 821 million. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states that the number of hungry people increased for the third consecutive year in 2017, reaching 821 million. According to this organization's assessment, war, unrest, and climate change have contributed to the increase in the number of hungry people. The FAO warns that if this situation continues, the goal set for eradicating hunger by 2030 will not be achieved.
Iran's consulate in Basra has started operating in a new building. Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the opening of the Iranian consulate in a new building in Basra. Following recent unrest in Basra, a group of protesters set fire to the Iranian consulate in the city last Friday. Economic conditions and water and electricity shortages are among the factors contributing to the dissatisfaction of Basra residents.
Ayatollah Sistani's opposition to Haider al-Abadi's premiership. The information base of Ayatollah Sistani reported that he stated he would not support anyone who has previously held the position of prime minister for this role. Thus, current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi does not have Ayatollah Sistani's support for the next term. Al-Abadi is facing a wave of discontent in various regions of Iraq, especially in Basra.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's letter to Ayatollah Khamenei. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad requested in a letter to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic to grant leave to Hamid Baqai due to his health condition. Ahmadinejad wrote: "You are well aware of the injustice that has been done to Mr. Baqai. I would like to inform you of his poor health condition and that unfortunately, prison officials have imposed additional punishment on him contrary to the law of civil rights and prison regulations. He has been without phone contact with his family for over 20 days, and his legal leave has also been suspended." Hamid Baqai, Ahmadinejad's deputy during his presidency, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds.
Azra Bazargan: Let Narges Mohammadi see her father. Azra Bazargan, the mother of Narges Mohammadi, requested in a letter to the Tehran prosecutor to allow Narges to visit her elderly father. Azra Bazargan wrote: "As a mother who belongs to a family of fighters, I am tired of fighting against oppression in this land, and I am now complaining about the oppression you are inflicting on my innocent daughter. I ask the authorities to at least agree to her leave under these heavy prison sentences, and if you are still determined to deprive my child, at least send her with your agents for one hour to see her father so that her elderly father can calm down from the anxiety of not seeing his beloved child." Narges Mohammadi, the vice president of the Human Rights Defenders' Association, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for charges of conspiracy to commit acts against national security, propaganda against the regime, and forming the Legam campaign against the death penalty in the country.
Fake alcoholic beverages killed three people in Karaj. Mehrdad Babaei, head of the emergency medical center in Alborz province, announced that on Tuesday night, 13 people in southern Karaj and Fardis were poisoned, three of whom lost their lives. He stated that investigations into the cause of these poisonings are ongoing. However, IRNA reported that the cause of poisoning was the use of fake alcoholic beverages. The same informed source said that a seller of fake alcoholic beverages has been identified.
Russia begins its largest military exercise in Siberia, Vostok 2018. On Tuesday, Russia launched its largest military exercise in Siberia. In this exercise, which also includes Chinese soldiers, 300,000 Russian soldiers, 36,000 armored vehicles, 80 ships, and 1,000 aircraft, helicopters, and drones are participating. Nearly 3,500 Chinese soldiers are also participating in this exercise. Only in 1981, during the Soviet Union, was an exercise of this scale held. In the Vostok 2018 exercise, the number of participating forces is greater than in 1981.
Zarif's reaction to John Bolton's threat to the International Criminal Court. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, reacted to John Bolton's threat against the judges of the International Criminal Court on his Twitter account, stating, "When will the international community tell the United States to stop?" The ICC is likely to open a case against Afghan government forces, the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and American soldiers and intelligence agents for committing war crimes in Afghanistan. In response to this action, John Bolton, the U.S. National Security Advisor, called the ICC in The Hague "illegitimate" and threatened that if such a case were opened, Washington would impose sanctions against this court and file charges against its officials.
The export of essential goods from Marivan has been "prohibited." Shortly after news of the "scarcity of essential goods" in Marivan was published, ISNA reported, citing the city's governor, that "the export of any type of essential goods" from this city has been prohibited. Mohammad Shafiei, the governor of Marivan, stated: "The export of any type of essential goods, including oil, rice, sugar, etc., which are directly related to people's livelihoods, has been prohibited." He previously mentioned that "due to the excessive daily purchases by these travelers and their return to Iraq, essential goods for living in Marivan have become scarce, and a serious crisis is forming." He referred to more than a thousand travelers who, according to him, come daily to Marivan to buy their necessities and return.
Confirmation of the death penalty for 9 people for "group rape in a garden." Kayhan newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing the head of the judiciary in Fars province, the confirmation of the death penalty for 9 individuals for the crime of "group rape of women in a garden." Ali Al-Qasi Mehr stated that "since the final ruling for these individuals has recently been issued, we are allowed to introduce them." He said: "The 9 individuals who attacked a garden and raped three women after separating men and women have been sentenced to death, and their sentence has been confirmed by the Supreme Court."