This column features excerpts from the editorials, commentaries, and news articles of the leading Iranian newspapers.

Saturday’s headlines
JAM-E JAM: Air pollution in Tehran worsens
JAVAN: Economic crisis engulfs Europe
KHORASAN: Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan sign agreement on fight against narcotic drugs
KHORASAN: Ahmadinejad says with a comprehensive implementation of subsidy reform plan cash subsidy payments will increase much higher
TAFAHOM: State offices in Tehran are closed earlier on Saturday and Sunday due to air pollution
TAFAHOM: The consumption of dairy products reduce harmful side effects of air pollution
JAM-E JAM: All export duties and taxations will be removed according to the 5-year development plan ????? ??????? ??? ?? ???????? ?????
JAVAN: Chinese shoddy exports flooding Iran’s markets
JAHAN SANAT: Minister of labor and social affaires says he has no information about the government’s ‘comprehensive plan’ to resolve unemployment
HEMAYAT: Amano says Iran’s atomic activities are peaceful
QODS: 100 NAM states support Iran’s nuclear activities
KAYHAN: Erdogan says if Israel attacks, we will stand alongside Lebanon
HAMSHAHRI: North Korea warns about war on the Korean peninsula
Leading articles
AFARINESH in an editorial has analyzed the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The editorialist says during its 10-year life, the organization has gone through many ups and downs. Even though the aim behind the establishment of the organization was to settle border disputes between the Central Asian republics and China, it gradually set economic, security and strategic goals for itself. Regional analysts believe the organization is intended to safeguard the geopolitical interests of Russia and China in Eurasia. The writer says Iran has participated in the SCO meetings since 2005 as an observer and has expressed its wish to become a full member; however, China and Russia, by adopting new regulations for accepting new members actually halted attempts by Tehran to join the bloc. This came in the light of closer relationship between Moscow and Washington over the last year and power interactions between China, Russia and the U.S.
EBTEKAR says state offices and schools remained closed on Wednesday as air pollution reached its peak in Tehran. The responsible authorities should have understood by now that declaration of holiday is not the solution. The holiday on Wednesday stopped traffic to a great extent but it did not reduce air pollution in the capital. A few years ago, a ten-year plan announced to cope with air pollution in Tehran by the Department of Environment. But still no organization shoulder the responsibility to tackle the issue and their sole responsibility is restricted to advise old people, children and patients remain at home during the smog. Overpopulation, geographical location and excessive car driving are blamed for increase in air pollution in Tehran. Meanwhile, economists say holidays cost about $130 million a day, because of the loss of business. Health experts also regret thousands of deaths a year caused by heart attacks due to air pollution