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Daily Covid caseload hits new low in Iran

COVID in Iran

That’s according to figures released by the Health Ministry on Sunday. The Saturday daily caseload was 1,887.

Meanwhile, the daily death toll on Sunday was 38. The fatalities push to 140,315 the total death toll in Iran since the start of the Covid pandemic.

Currently, 38 cities across Iran are marked red, the highest level of risk from the disease. The number of blue cities, where the situation is nearly normal, is 58. The rest of the cities are either orange or yellow.

The downward trend in Covid deaths and infections has been holding in recent days across Iran. That has been attributed to a nationwide vaccination campaign, restrictions put in place by officials and people’s efforts to observe the health protocols.

President Raisi: Iran supports stability in Iraq

Ebrahim Raisi Barham Salih

Raisi also said that is why Iran welcomes the establishment of a strong government in Iraq and supports the realization of the interests of the Iraqi people.

Raisi and Saleh were speaking in a phone call initiated by the Iraqi president.

The Iranian president said Iran and Iraq are not mere neighbors and there is a brotherly and family bond between the two nations.

Raisi added that positive steps have been taken to deepen ties between Tehran and Baghdad and that Iran is determined to boost the level of ties in all fields.

He underlined the need for efforts to stabilize the region without foreign interference, adding that time has proven that the US does not care about Muslim nations of the region including Iraq.

He added that today, it’s been proved that extra-regional powers are only after their own interests.

Raisi warned that any country in the region that moves in line with the domineering goals of the US and the Zionist regime will draw the wrath of regional Muslim nations.

The Iraqi president for his part underscored the necessity of cooperation between Iran and Iraq to overcome regional challenges.

Saleh said Baghdad and Tehran are on the same page regarding many issues and follow the same goals.

The Iraqi president said regional problems can only be resolved by regional countries.

He also said the economic possibilities of Iran and Iraq can serve the interests of both nations.

Pakistan president dissolves parliament, opposition motion blocked

Arif Alvi and Imran Khan

“The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, has approved the advice of the Prime Minister,” a statement from his office said, meaning fresh elections must be held within 90 days.

Khan has survived a move to oust him as Pakistan’s prime minister, getting a reprieve when the deputy speaker of Parliament blocked a no-confidence motion as unconstitutional.

Khan, whose fate was not immediately clear, later advised the country’s president to dissolve Parliament, leading to fresh political instability in the nuclear-armed country of 220 million people.

Pakistan’s embattled PM was set to face the no-confidence vote on Sunday after the opposition stated it had the numbers to win.

The opposition needs a simple majority of 172 votes in Pakistan’s 342-seat Parliament to unseat Khan, a cricketer-turned-politician.

Key partners in his small but key coalition, along with 17 of his own party members, have joined the opposition to remove him.

On Sunday, giant metal containers blocked roads and entrances to the capital’s diplomatic enclave, Parliament and other sensitive government installations in the capital.

UN chief to Iran FM: Yemen truce victory for all parties

Antonio Guterres and Hossein Amir Abdollahian

During the talks, the UN secretary general congratulated the establishment of truce in Yemen.

The Iranian foreign minister also welcomed the establishment of truce in Yemen and thanked the secretary general for the role he played in this regard, stressing that the time has come for taking key steps toward establishment of peace and stability in Yemen, especially toward full removal of humanitarian sanctions on the country.

Amir Abdollahian also announced the continued support of the Islamic Republic of Iran for a settlement to the Yemeni crisis and ending the war in the country, noting “we hope, in time with establishment of truce, the full blockade on people of Yemen is also halted, so that this important opportunity is not wasted.”

The Iranian foreign minister also underlined the need for dispatching humanitarian aid to people of Yemen.

Amir Abdollahian also welcomed a visit by the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy Hans Grundberg to the region.

He also talked about the agenda of the Security Council to issue two different statements on Yemen.

“We welcome the issuance of a statement by the Security Council in support of the ceasefire, but if there is another statement that unilaterally, and without taking the Saudi attacks on Yemen into consideration, condemns the National Salvation Government, this will be unconstructive,” he said.

The Iranian foreign minister also talked about the latest developments concerning the negotiations in Vienna for removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

“We are close to an agreement in the negotiations and we have conveyed our proposals on the remaining issues through the European Union’s top negotiator to the US side, and the ball is now in the US’s court,” he said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also described the important negotiations in Vienna as significant and expressed hope that the parties to the talks will reach an agreement as soon as possible.

At least 15 wounded in Kabul blast

Taliban Afghanistan

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the blast and no one immediately claimed responsibility.

Wais Ahmad, a money changer, said the explosion happened inside a market where money changers operate. The market was closed immediately after the explosion and Taliban security surrounded the area.

The blast was the first in the Afghan capital in months. Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have stepped up security throughout most of the country since sweeping to power in August.

The greatest threat facing the Taliban comes from the Islamic State group affiliate known as Islamic State in Khorasan Province, or IS-K. The Taliban have cracked down on the affiliate in its stronghold in eastern Afghanistan.

In a statement, IS-K claimed late Saturday they targeted a Taliban vehicle in Kabul, killing everyone inside the vehicle. However, there was no confirmation from the Taliban rulers or signs of an explosion on Saturday.

The IS statement also claimed an explosion in western Herat province targeting the country’s minority Shiite Muslims. There was no confirmation of any explosion in Herat and the IS often makes exaggerated claims.

Traditional wrestling competitions held in northeastern Iran

Traditional wrestling competitions in Iran

The contests were held during the Nowruz holidays, which ended on Saturday, with the presence of 250 traditional wrestlers from 10 Iranian provinces.

The competitions were staged at God-e Cheshmeh Zeinal Khan in Esfarayen, Northern Khorasan Province.

Ba Chukhe wrestling, otherwise known as Kurdish wrestling, is one of the most famous local sports in Iran.

The traditional sport is nowadays known as Chukhe and is practiced by Turks and Kormanj Kurds as well as other ethnicities in Khorasan.

Ba Chukhe wrestling is an ancient practice and was traditionally practiced by locals during wedding and other ceremonies in the past.

In Kurdish language, Chukhe means a coat and, accordingly, Ba Chukhe – with Chukhe – means while wearing a coat. The coast is light brown in color and made of undyed sheep wool.

Symbolic polo game played in Isfahan’s iconic field

polo game in Isfahan

Polo is one of old and historical Iranian sports and was initially played by Persian kings.

However, it has turned into a global sport today. Sports such as hockey and golf have also been inspired by polo.

When polo was being played, kings of Ancient Persia as well royal families and ordinary people enthusiastically watched the games.

The Naqshe-Jahan is the oldest and largest polo field in the world.

Along Karoun

Karoun River Iran

During Nowruz, tourists ride boat on the river as locals fish. Pole Sefid – white bridge – which is built on Karoun River is a symbol of the provincial capital Ahvaz.

The bridge is one of main sites where tourists visit and people take boats.

Schools reopen in Iran following 2 years of closure

Schools in Iran COVID

The reopening follows a decision by the National Coronavirus Task Force and the announcement by the Ministry of Education.

As of Sunday, students of all grades will be required to attend classes like in the time before the Covid-19 outbreak.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Yousef Nouri touched upon an earlier announcement suggesting students would have to go to school an extra month.

He reiterated if classes are held regularly without any interruption or cancelation, that extra month will not be required. The minister further added the transportation service for students will begin to operate as usual in a week’s time.

“There is flexibility with regards to the times of the classes being held, but schools open at 7:30 am, and naturally there will be minor disruptions in the initial days,” he explained.

He also said there is no Covid-vaccine requirement for class attendance. Iran has managed to bring the Covid Pandemic under control through nationwide vaccination. More than 147 million people have got the jab so far.