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A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 26 November 2019

Demonstrators burn representations of the U.S. flag during a pro-
government rally denouncing last week’s violent protests over a
fuel price hike, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Associated Press
Iran's Guard

threatens U.S., In this April 27, 2016, file photo, people walk past a shop selling pirated movie DVDs and music

CDs in Beijing.
Associated Press
allies over protests China sets tougher guidelines

DUBAI, United Arab Emir- and advocacy director for
ates (AP) — The head of the Middle East and North to protect patents, copyrights
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Africa. Iran has not re-
threatened the U.S. and leased a death toll and cut BEIJING (AP) — China is- Theft and forced trans- come, destruction of coun-
its allies Monday as he ad- off internet for several days, sued new, tougher guide- fers of technology and in- terfeit goods. The guide-
dressed a pro-government making it difficult to ascer- lines for protection of pat- adequate protection of lines did not include specif-
demonstration attended tain the extent and severity ents, copyrights and other copyrights, patents and ic penalties, which would
by tens of thousands of of the demonstrations. intellectual property in a trademarks are perennial come with later revisions of
people denouncing last At the pro-government move that may be timed complaints of foreign com- laws and regulations. They
week's violent protests over rally, which state TV re- to help along halting prog- panies operating in China call for significantly improv-
a fuel price hike. ferred to as the "Rise of the ress in trade talks with the and are among the key is- ing the enforcement of IPR
Gen. Hossein Salami, echo- people of Tehran against ri- United States. sues in the latest flareup in protections by 2022.
ing other Iranian officials, ots," protesters carried signs The guidelines issued late trade tensions. Hopes for progress in resolv-
accused the U.S., Britain, bearing traditional anti-U.S. Sunday by the State Coun- Despite much progress, ing the costly trade dispute
Israel and Saudi Arabia of slogans. But speakers also cil, or Cabinet, and by the "China continues to be a between the U.S. and Chi-
stoking the unrest. He said criticized President Hassan powerful Central Commit- haven for counterfeiting, na have revived in recent
the rise in gasoline prices Rouhani's administration for tee of the ruling Commu- digital piracy and IP theft," days with upbeat com-
was a "mere pretext" for an the way the fuel price hike nist Party order beefed up the U.S. government's Inter- ments from both sides.
attack on the nation. was implemented, even laws for protecting such national Trade Administra- President Donald Trump
"If you cross our red line, as they called for capital intellectual property rights, tion said in a recent report. said Friday at an NCAA
we will destroy you," he punishment for rioters and increased compensation It said piracy of U.S. intellec- National Collegiate Cham-
said. "We will not leave any further restrictions on social for infringements and strict- tual piracy by China costs pions Day event that the
move unanswered." He media platforms. er enforcement of existing American companies up to "China deal is coming
said if Iran decides to re- Iran has been gripped by laws. They also lower the $600 billion a year. along very well."
spond, "the enemy will not a severe economic cri- threshold for criminal pros- Piracy is also a domestic He also suggested that he
have security anywhere," sis since the U.S. restored ecution of IPR offenses. concern. The government might not sign a congres-
adding that "our patience painful sanctions after with- The new blueprint makes has long said that compa- sional resolution in support
has a limit." drawing from the 2015 nu- protection of intellectual nies are less likely to inno- of human rights in Hong
Amnesty International said clear deal. property one of the criteria vate if they cannot profit Kong following months of
late Monday that at least In a separate develop- for evaluating local gov- off the results of their invest- protests, out of concern
143 people have been ment, Iran's agriculture ernment officials' perfor- ments due to piracy of their that might derail the trade
killed in the protests since minister resigned a day mance, creating a greater products and technology. talks. A desire to keep
Nov. 15, updating an ear- before he was to face an incentive for compliance. The IPR guidelines issued those negotiations on track
lier toll. The London-based impeachment hearing in In past decades, officials by the official Xinhua News was a factor deterring Chi-
rights group said it had parliament. The presiden- were judged mainly by Agency did not refer spe- na from intervening in the
"clear evidence" that Ira- cy's website said President political loyalties and eco- cifically to the trade talks. turmoil, he asserted.
nian security forces used Hassan Rouhani accepted nomic growth in their locali- Improving those protec- Asked Monday about the
firearms against unarmed the resignation of Mah- ties. More recently, China's tions is the "The driver of our status of the trade talks, a
protesters. "The rising death moud Hojjati and then ap- leaders added environ- country's economic com- Chinese foreign ministry
toll is an alarming indica- pointed him as an assistant mental protection to such petitiveness," it said. spokesman reiterated Bei-
tion of just how ruthless the in agricultural and food evaluations. Putting future The new rules call for "great- jing's stance that it hopes
treatment of unarmed pro- security affairs. Iran's parlia- promotions and income ly increasing the maximum to reach an agreement
testers has been by the Ira- ment planned to impeach on the line could create amount of compensation based on "mutual respect."
nian authorities and reveals Hojjati after some of his ap- much stronger motivation for damages linked to IPR "We hope the U.S. side
their appalling assault on pointed managers were to more effectively enforce infringements" and include will meet us halfway," said
human life," said Philip Lu- arrested on corruption such laws. confiscation of illegal in- Geng Shuang.q
ther, Amnesty's research charges. q