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CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition called a two-day national strike against President Nicolas Maduro after another day of violent clashes on Saturday where the injured included a violinist famous for his musical protests.

The opposition coalition - which organized a 24-hour shutdown this week that was heeded by millions and paralyzed large swathes of the South American nation - said the next strike would be on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mass marches were also planned for Monday and Friday in an effort to force Maduro into aborting a controversial July 30 election for a new congress.

The fast-escalating political showdown in the South American OPEC nation comes after more than 100 people have died and thousands more been injured in anti-government unrest since demonstrations began in April.

"The Venezuelan people are not giving up, they are valiant, they will come out to defend democracy and the constitution," opposition lawmaker Simon Calzadilla said at a news conference flanked by other coalition officials.

Foes accuse Maduro of turning Venezuela into a dictatorship and wrecking what should be a prosperous economy. They want free elections and an end to two decades of socialist rule.

Maduro, 54, calls himself a flag bearer for the international left, up against right-wing "terrorists" seeking a coup with the connivance of the United States and foreign media.

Bloodied Musician

On Saturday, several thousand protesters sought to march on the pro-Maduro Supreme Court in support of alternative magistrates appointed by the opposition. But security forces blocked them with armored cars and riot shields.

Clashes ensued for several hours as hundreds of masked youths hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at National Guard troops firing tear gas from motorcycles.

The injured included musician Wuilly Arteaga. The 23-year-old has become famous for playing the national anthem on his violin in front of security lines as battles rage around him.

Paramedics attended Arteaga in the street as blood poured down his face. He later tweeted a video from hospital with a bandaged face and clutching his violin.

"Neither rubber bullets nor pellets will stop our fight," said Arteaga. "Tomorrow I will be back in the streets."

A demonstrator throws a petrol bomb while clashing with riot security forces during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, July 22, 2017.Marco Bello

The opposition is stepping up street tactics in what it dubs "hour zero" for Venezuela to try and block the new Constituent Assembly that Maduro wants to create next weekend. The opposition is boycotting that vote, calling it a sham and demanding conventional elections instead.

The Constituent Assembly, whose election rules appear designed to guarantee a majority for the government even though it has minority popular support, could re-write the constitution and disband the existing opposition-led legislature.

'Enough of Terrorism'

At rival pro-government rallies on Saturday, candidates for the Constituent Assembly said it was the only way to bring peace to Venezuela. "All of us united are going to tell the right wing 'We've had enough of terrorism'," Maduro's wife Cilia Flores, who is running for an assembly post, told a rally.

Slideshow (23 Images)

As well as domestic protests, foreign pressure has been growing on Maduro, including a threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to apply economic sanctions.

But the government is showing no sign of backing down, announcing that it will put 232,000 soldiers on the streets to protect voters. "In eight days, we will have the Constitutent Assembly," Maduro said on state TV on Saturday night, where at one point he sang along to John Lennon's "Imagine".

He accused his foes of plotting a coup similar to the brief 2002 toppling of his predecessor Hugo Chavez, and said his government was ready for "any scenario" that may arise.

"I would like to have good relations with Donald Trump, shake his hand, hold a conversation, and tell him that we are in the 21st century not the times of colonialism," Maduro added.

Also on Saturday, the government's intelligence service arrested lawyer Angel Zerpa, one of 13 people sworn in as Supreme Court magistrates by the opposition in defiance of the government.

Confirming the detention, Venezuela's state prosecutor's office, which has broken with the Maduro administration, called it "illegitimate". Opposition leaders were outraged.

Earlier at the protests in Caracas, National Guard forces could be seen firing tear gas canisters horizontally at demonstrators in contravention of international norms.

At least a dozen people were injured, the opposition said.

"The repression has been brutal," opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said. "The world has to understand what we are living through in the streets of Venezuela."

Additional reporting by Andreina Aponte, Deisy Buitrago and Corina Pons; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Chris Reese, Richard Pullin and Michael Perry

17 technology parks to be established in Russian regions

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MOSCOW, July 21. /TASS/. Seventeen technology parks will be established by the yearend in Russian regions to support young researchers, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday during the program Serious Talk with Vladimir Putin at the Sirius Educational Center for Gifted Children.

"Technology parks are being set up in 24 regions. Twenty-four technology parks have already been set up for young researchers and 17 more will be established in regions by the end of the year. So, you know where you can go," Putin said when children asked him if there were any chances their research projects would be implemented.

"I would like to see these [projects] implemented. To a larger extent, it will depend on how interesting they are, how useful and promising. We have a system of grant support for young researchers in various areas," Putin noted.

"The Agency for Strategic Initiatives has an entire system of support to young specialists in various areas. Rusnano and Skolkovo also provide such possibilities," he added.

More:
http://tass.com/science/957305

Russia in July extracts 10.9 million barrels oil - Minister Novak

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ST. PETERSBURG, July 23. /TASS/. Russia produced in July 10.947 million barrels, which is 300,000 barrels less than the level of October, which OPEC considers a base level in agreement on production cut, Russia's Minister of Energy Alexander Novak told reporters on Sunday.

"In July, we had 10.947 (million barrels), minus 300 (thousand barrels - TASS) of October," he said.

Russia reached the target cut under the deal with OPEC back in May.

Russia and OPEC extended the production cut deal for another nine months from July 1 to end of March, 2018. The agreement's terms and conditions remain unchanged.

The ministerial committee

The ministerial committee on July 24 will discuss growing oil output in Libya and Nigeria, Novak told reporters.

"Of course, we shall discuss the current situations in all the countries," he said. "Including Libya and Nigeria."

On July 22, the technical committee discussed growing production in those countries. OPEC’s Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo told reporters the delegations from Libya and Nigeria at the meeting had presented all the figures and production plans - which correspond to the problems those countries are facing.

Libya and Nigeria are two members of OPEC, which are outside the obligation of production cut due to the instable political situations in those countries. Meanwhile, the production there was growing thus affecting the effect from the cutting under the deal.

More:
http://tass.com/economy/957407

Ukraine's military prosecutor arrested in absentia in Russia for illegal criminal charges

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MOSCOW, July 23. /TASS/. Moscow's Basmanny Court sanctioned arrest in absentia of Ukraine's Prosecutor of the Chief Military Prosecution Ruslan Kravchenko and Investigator for particularly important cases of the Prosecutor General's Office Vadim Priymachok, charged with prosecution of a person who is knowingly innocent of criminal responsibility, the Court's Press Secretary Yunona Tsareva told TASS on Sunday.

"At the request from the investigator, the court chose in relation to Kravchenko and Priymachok, who are on the international wanted list, a preventive measure in the form of detention in absentia," she said.

The press secretary said the charges presented to Kravchenko and Priymachok are under the Criminal Code’s article on criminal charges and illegal criminal case accusing a person of grave or especially grave crime. The responsibility under this article is between five and ten years in prison. The press secretary said she did not have details on the criminal case.

The media reported earlier, Military Prosecutor Kravchenko and investigator Priymachok were probing in Ukraine into a criminal case against Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Besides, the military prosecutor is head of the group investigating the case on treason of Ukraine’s former President Viktor Yanukovich.

The treason case

In March 2017, Military Prosecutor’s Office submitted to court an indictment against Yanukovich. He was accused of committing crimes specified, in particular, in Ukrainian criminal laws on high treason and violation of territorial supremacy and inviolability of the country. Kiev’s Obolonsky District Court satisfied the motion of the prosecutor’s office regarding the organization of absentee court proceedings into Yanukovich’s high treason, despite the fact that the former president had expressed readiness to take part in the process in the form of an inter-court assistance.

On July 5, the former president voiced his decision to give up participation in the ongoing court proceedings in Kiev, that accused him of high treason, and withdraw his lawyers. He believes that "all possible principles and norms of law were violated, Ukraine’s Constitution was desecrated, and the rules of proceedings are being totally neglected" at the proceedings, whereas the court’s ruling "was determined beforehand." Yanukovich was later allowed a state lawyer for his defense in court. The next hearing on the case will take place on August 3

More:
http://tass.com/world/957399

S. Korea regains top spot at 2017 Math Olympiad

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SEOUL, July 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea won this year's world championship for mathematics with six gold medals, regaining the top title after five years, the event's organizers said Sunday.

The six-member South Korean delegation earned a combined 170 points at the International Mathematical Olympiad 2017 held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 12-23, outpacing China with 159 points and Vietnam with 155 points.

The Olympiad is a world mathematics competition for high school students that takes place every year.

South Korea ended its championship drought in the competition after winning the 2012 event. It finished second last year and placed third in 2015.

South Korea's delegation for the International Mathematical Olympiad 2017 held in Rio de Janeiro. (Courtesy of the Korea Mathematical Olympiad)

Samsung Bioepis biosimilar wins tentative approval in U.S.

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SEOUL, July 23 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Bioepis Co. diabetes treatment biosimilar received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), industry sources said Sunday.

The Lusduna Nexvue developed in cooperation with multinational drug company Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp. (MDS) got the green light because it satisfied all regulatory rules for follow-on biologics of clinical and nonclinical safety, local here observers said.

A biosimilar is a biologic medical product which is almost an identical copy of an original product that is manufactured by a different company.

The drug, however, is being held back because of the remaining patent period controlled by French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. Resolving the patent issue can take upwards of 30 months.

Samsung had invested funds for the development of the drug with MDS in charge of conducting clinical tests and sales.

Lusduna Nexvue has already been approved in Europe as a biosimilar in January.

Iran to sign contracts with Total, Shell on petrochemical projects

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Baku, Azerbaijan, July 23

By Emil Ilgar – Trend:

Iran is preparing to sign contracts with French Total and Royal Dutch Shell on petrochemical projects, Marzieh Shahdaei, head of Iran’s National Petrochemical Company, told IRNA.

The sides are negotiating the final issues to sign contracts, according to her.

Both Total and Shell have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran on Petrochemical sphere in 2016.

Shahdaei said that the worth of the contract with Total will be $2 billion. The worth of Shell’s MoU with Iran is estimated at $6 billion.

Iran plans to attract $10 billion investment in petrochemical sphere in the current fiscal year. The country projected to double the petrochemical production capacity to 120 million tons per year by 2021.

Total and Iran earlier signed a 20-year contract worth $4.8 billion to develop South Pars gas fields’ 11th phase.

Over 2,300 Iranian children live in prison

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Baku, Azerbaijan, July 23

By Emil Ilgar – Trend:

Over 2,300 children live in prison in Iran with their mothers, a member of parliament said July 23.
Mohammad Javad Fathi said that the high statistics of prisoned women in Iran is a sensitive and serious issue.

He called Judiciary System to release accurate and clear statistics about the number of imprisoned mothers compared to the previous years.

There is not any transparent official statistics about the number of women in Iran’s prisons, but according to the Anti-Narcotics Campaign Headquarters advisor on women and family affairs, Zahra Bonyanian, about 3 percent of Iran’s imprisoned people are women, standing 7,327 women in 2013.

Fathi said that regarding 2,300 children who live with their parents in prisons, Judiciary System must establish kindergartens in prisons.

According to Iranian laws, children under 3 years old can remain with their parents in prison, but some statistics shows that some of them are even 6 year old children.

Oil market rebalancing to speed up in second half:

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A rebalancing of the oil market is progressing more slowly than expected, but it will speed up in the second half of the year, OPEC's Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

"We are pretty sure that the rebalancing process may be going at a slower pace than earlier projected, but it is on course. It is bound to accelerate in the second half," Barkindo told reporters in the Russian city of St Petersburg.

Barkindo cited strong oil demand growth, conformity with a global pact by OPEC and non-OPEC countries to cut output as well as an inventory draw in the United States as reasons why a rebalancing of the oil market would speed up.

Seven injured after train derailment in southwestern Iran

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Seven passengers were reportedly injured as two wagons of a train derailed on Saturday in the southwestern Iranian city of Andimeshk, IRNA reported.

The train was en route Mashad in northeastern Iran from Ahvaz, the capital city of the southwestern province of Khouzestan.

Those injured were immediately transferred to a hospital in Andimeshk to receive medical treatment, according to a local official.

This is the third train derailment which has occured in Khouzestan this month.

The cause of the first incident was declared to have been extremely hot weather that damaged the rail track.

Most parts of Khuzestan Province have experienced unprecedentedly hot temperatures of over 50 degrees Celsius in recent days.

Turkmenistan boosting gas chemical industry

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Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, July 22

By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:

Turkmenistan plans to build several big gas chemical complexes, a source in the country’s fuel and energy industry said.

Here the matter rests in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, monoethylene glycol, dimethyl ether and other chemical products with help of the modern technologies used for extraction of ethane from natural gas, as well as using the methanol to olefin technology for methane recovery and processing.

Moreover, work continues to construct a plant for the production of liquid petroleum products from natural gas (using GTL technology).

According to the source, Turkmenistan is ready to study other proposals of foreign investors on investment projects aimed at high-technology processing of natural gas and the production of export-oriented products.

Clashes between Syrian Kurds, central government least likely: analyst

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A political analyst believes the possibility of clashes between Kurds in Syria and the central government of the country is least likely as the problem of the presence of Russia and America in the state has been solved.

Maher Ihsan told Xinhua news agency that the recent deal between Washington and Moscow over the controlling regions in the north of Syria will make clashes between opposing forces in the region very impossible and the two states agreement will help finding a political solution for the crisis in Syria.

Reiterating that both U.S.-supported Kurdish forces and Russian-backed governmental forces are fighting against terrorism without any clashes between the two sides, he added the situation will help them to have a better understanding.

I don’t think there would be clashes between the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and governmental forces in the regions that have been liberated from the Islamic State as tension between the U.S. and Russia over dominance and influence is over, he said about the future of the Syrian northern city of Raqqa after it is fully liberated from the terrorist group of the Islamic State which called the city as its capital.

He went on to add that the U.S. and Russia have agreed that Syria forces would enter Deir al-Zur and the Kurds would control Raqqa.

Reporter’s code: 50101

UNESCO, ISESCO move to raise ICT skill of madrasa teachers

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DHAKA, July 23, 2017 (BSS) - UNESCO and Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) moved to develop the ICT skill of Madrasa teachers.

Both the organizations jointly arranged an eight-day training programme on 'ICT in Education from Madrasa Teachers' at the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics here from today.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid addressed the inaugural function as the chief guest with Higher Education Division Secretary Md Sohorab Hossain in the chair.

Technical and Madrasa Education Division Secretary Md Alamgir was present as special guest while ISESCO Representative to Bangladesh Aziz El Hajir, Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board Chairman Professor AKM Saif Ullha and UNESCO National Commission of Bangladesh Joint Secretary Manjur Hossain addressed the function.

Nahid said the students of madrasa can prove their skill if the madrasa teachers earn skill in information technology and modern education.

Bangladesh-PM to distribute National Film Awards-2015 tomorrow

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DHAKA, July 23, 2017 (BSS) - The National Film Awards-2015 will be distributed through a gala function here tomorrow.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to hand over the awards, the highest recognition for contribution to the film industry, at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre tomorrow afternoon.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu will chair the function, while Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry AKM Rahamatullah will be present at the function as the special guest.

Information Secretary Martuza Ahmed will deliver the welcome address.

The Information Ministry on May 19 announced the names of 31 nominees of the National Film Awards in 25 categories for their outstanding contributions to the industry for the year 2015.

The nominees are: film actress Afroza Sultana Ratna Shabana and singer Ferdousi Rahman (Lifetime Achievement Award): Best films (jointly) 'Bapjaner Bioscope' directed by Reazul Mawla Rizu and 'Anil Bagchir Ekdin' directed by Morshedul Islam; Best documentary: 'Ekttorer Ganahotya O Bodhyobhumi' by the Department of Films and Publications, best film director (jointly): Md Reazul Mawla Rizu for his film 'Bapjaner Bioscope' and Morshedul Islam for his film 'Anil Bagchir Ekdin'.

Best Actor (main character)(jointly) Sakib Khan for his film 'Aro Bhalobasbo Tomae' and Mahfuz Ahmed for his film 'Anil Bagchir Ekdin'.

Best actress: Joya Ahsan for her film 'Zero Degree'. Best actor (supporting role): Gazi Rakayett in the film 'Anil Bagchir Ekdin'. Best actress (supporting role): Toma Mirza in the film 'Nodijan'. Best actor in negative role: Iresh Jaker in the film 'Chuey Dile Mon'. Best child actor: Zara Zarib in the film 'Prarthana' and special award for best child artist Promiya Rahman for the film "Prarthana."

Best Music Director: Sunny Jubaer for the film 'Anil Bagchir Ekdin'. Best Singer: Subir Nandi for his song 'Tomarey Chharitey Bondhu' in the film Mohua Sundari and SI Tutul for his song "Uthal Pathal Joar" in the film 'Bapjaner Bioscope'.

Best singer (female): Priyanka Gope for her song Amar Sukh Sey To in the film 'Anil Bagchir Ekdin'; Best lyricist: Amirul Islam for the song 'Uthal Patal Joar' of the film 'Bapjaner Bioscope'. Best film story: Masum Reza for 'Bapjaner Bioscope'.

Best scriptwriter (jointly): Masum Reza (Bapjaner Bioscope) and Md Reazul Mawla Rizu (Bapjaner Bioscope): Best dialogues: Humayun Ahmed for 'Anil Bagchir Ekdin'. Best editor: 'Bapjaner Bioscope'; Best art director: Samurai Maruf for the film 'Zero Degree'; Best photographer: Mahfuzur Rahman Khan for the film 'Padma Patar Jol'; Best sound recordist: Ratan Kumar Paul for 'Zero Degree' and Best dress and costume: Muskan Sumaika and best makeup man: Shafiq for the film 'Jalaler Galpo'.

The award-distribution ceremony will end through a cultural function to be performed by renowned artistes of the film industry.

Metro First Orange Line Metro train to reach Pakistan by end of this month

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BEIJING, July 23 (APP): The first of 27 trains designed for Orange Line Metro in Lahore, would be delivered by a Chinese company to the Punjab government at the end of this month beginning the era of subways and light rail in Pakistan.

The train designed and manufactured under a framework agreement signed between China and Pakistan in April 2015 to build the rapid mass transit system in Lahore, had already rolled off the production line in central China’s Hunan province in May this year.
The remaining 26 trains will be handed over to the authorities by the end of the year, according to official sources here.
The system, the first large rail transit project within the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was contracted by a consortium, composed of China Railway Corporation and China North Industries Corporation.
The train with five coaches designed for the 25.58 km Orange Line Metro, is being produced by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd.
An energy-saving air-conditioning system, suitable for the constant high summer temperature in Pakistan, has been designed and installed in the train which would have maximum operation speed of around 80 km per hour.
The design combines the national flower of Pakistan and the shape of the dome of the Badshahi mosque while heat-resistant bogies increase durability, said an engineer of the company.
The metro project is being built in accordance with the same quality requirements for high-speed railway linking Beijing and Shanghai, according to the project manager.
The 26-kilometer line will have 26 stations, two of which will be underground.
Adopting Chinese standards, the project will use China-made metro cars and mechatronic systems as well.
A lot of engineering and technical workers from both countries are now working in the forefront of the Orange Line project that carries the expectation of the Pakistani public.
It is the early achievement and demonstration project of CPEC and is a demonstration project of China-Pakistan cooperation under the background of Belt and Road Initiative.
In April 2015, China and Pakistan signed the Orange Line Project EPC Contract and the contract price is about 1.6 billion dollars. The Project was financed by Export-Import Bank of China and CRRC ZELC was responsible for manufacture. Besides, it adopted the standard of China and metro vehicle and electrical system of it all adopted Chinese equipments.
The project will go into service in the first half year of 2018. Thus, it will ease the traffic pressure of Lahore effectively by shortening the drive time to 45 minutes or so from 2.5 hours and providing services for 250,000 people each day.
According to an analysts, in the first year, it can achieve about 9.29 billion rupees (about 610 million Yuan), and save about 5.62 billion rupees (about 370 million Yuan). It will bring remarkable social and economic benefits.
Moreover, during the process of this project, it provided great opportunities for talents, and hire various professionals for the further development of Pakistan’s transportation.

MITRA MANDAL GLOBAL NEWS

Bloodied Musician

'Enough of Terrorism'

The ministerial committee

The treason case