The event was held on December 28 in four categories: teens, youth, manual transmission carts and adults.
The following are photos of the competitions published by IRNA:
Iran Condemns Deadly Bomb Attack in Egypt
In a statement published on Saturday, Bahram Qassemi described as “hideous and despicable” attacking innocent women and men who enter other countries for tourism.
Qassemi offered sympathies to the Vietnamese government and nation andt t families of the victims of the blind attack.
At least four people have been killed and 10 injured near the pyramids in Giza on Saturday, after a roadside bomb exploded near a bus carrying Vietnamese tourists.
Three of the dead were Vietnamese and one was an Egyptian tour guide.
Ancient Cuneiform Discovered in Iran’s Kermanshah Province
Head of the International Joint Centre for Archaeological Exploration at Razi University of Kermanshah and the University of Copenhagen said part of a cuneiform script and a cylinder stamp with cuneiform inscriptions are the most important archaeological discoveries at the historical hill of Kheybar.
Ali Beigi said the discoveries show people who lived in this region more than three thousand years ago were able to read and write.
“They used the cuneiform to convey their messages. The oldest discoveries on this hill date back to the fifth millennium BCE. However, the latest findings of the exploratory team belong to the Parthian period (slightly more than two thousand years ago). With explorations continuing, more artefacts could be discovered in the lower layers,” said Beigi.
The Iranian scientist said that the archaeological team and some botanists are trying to study the flora of the region to find more about the living conditions of the inhabitants of this region.
“In addition to studying the architecture and pottery, the archaeological group collects animal bones. With the help of experts, they are studying their nutrition and livestock or animals hunted by the inhabitants of this ancient site.”
According to Beigi, the continuation of explorations could allow for the discovery of more artefacts and inscriptions dating back to the 2nd and 1st millenniums BCE.
In October, for the first time in Iran, a tooth belonging to a Neanderthal child was discovered in mountains in Kermanshah.
The tooth, which belongs to a six-year-old child living in the region 42,000-45,000 years ago, was found along with some rocky tools of the middle Paleolithic period.
Iran’s Beauties in Photos: Ancient City of Khaf
The city of Nashtifan, located in the south-east of Khaf near Qaen, has old windmills known as the Nashtifan windmills. They used to be powered by the 120-day winds of Sistan and Baluchestan province.
Among other attractions of Khaf are cemeteries that date back to the ancient Zoroastrian era.
Malek Zozan mosque is the only brick building left from the ancient city of Zozan, a valuable memorial of this magnificent region.
Another tourist attraction of Khaf is Khargerd Qiasiyeh School, which is located near the village of Khargerd.
Iran to Continue Exporting Electricity to Iraq: Energy Minister
He said Tehran and Baghdad have established long-term cooperation to revive the power plant industry in Iraq.
“Iran and Iraq signed a deal on Friday (December 28) which will be remembered as a historic agreement in the history of Iraq’s power industry,” he was quoted as saying in a report by ISNA.
The Iranian minister then referred to intense and constructive talks between the two sides to achieve a framework for long-term cooperation to rebuild Iraq’s electricity industry.
“We will do our best to share our know-how and experiences with the Iraqis in the electricity industry, a vital infrastructure of the country,” he said.
Ardakanian said the project will significantly reduce electricity waste in Iraq’s power grid and further develop the country’s power plants.
“The agreement was made [thanks to] the will of the two sides’ leaders. During today’s meetings with the Iraqi president and prime minister, we mutually underlined the need for completing the project sooner,” he said.
Ardakanian expressed hope his Iraqi counterpart would visit Iran soon to explore ways of accelerating the project and sign a new contract for importing Iran’s electricity.
“Currently, over 65 percent of Iran’s energy is provided by the private sector. Naturally, our private sector will play a key role in implementing this deal,” he said.
According to Ardakanian, the Islamic Republic will establish close cooperation with the Iraqi firms in electricity and water areas.
“Hundreds of private sector firms active in manufacturing power plants’ machinery will start cooperation with their Iraqi counterparts,” he said.
US Artist: Emergency Landing in Iran Good Chance to Get to Know People
Around two weeks ago, Ms Dawnn Karen was on a Boeing 737 en route from Dubai to Norway when the plane had to make an emergency landing at an airport in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz due to a failure in one of engines.
The aircraft touched down at the airport with 170 passengers and 18 crew members on board. The passengers, including Karen, were housed in some hotels of Shiraz for a few hours until another plane arrives.
She is a clothing psychologist who has worked for various media outlets in more than 35 countries, notably New York Times. After watching the breaking news of the emergency landing is posted by the Twitter account of the Islamic Republic’s News Agency (IRNA), she enthusiastically announced her readiness to recount the story of her short stay in Shiraz.
She told IRNA that as an American in the city she had a very pleasant experience, thanking Iranians for their hospitality. Karen said she never allowed politics to affect her view on Iran and her first-hand experience of the country was totally different from the image portrayed by the Westerners.
Karen then mentioned a few examples of Iranians’ hospitality and kindness. She said she had asked Iranians to provide her with an Internet access so she could contact her family in the United States and inform them she was safe.
This American artist says she asked a Shirazi woman how to properly wear a shawl (hijab) and she taught him.
She said her unfortunate emergency landing in Iran ended up an opportunity for her.
She said it was a harrowing experience to see one of the plane’s engines stop working and the plane beginning to descend, but it was a chance for her to know about the philosophy behind Iranian women’s clothing, boosting her knowledge of the psychology of fashion.
Karen says as a fashion psychologist, she seeks to uncover hidden facts about people’s clothing, and this landing allowed her to get familiar with the Iranian culture of fashion.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 29
The top story in all papers today was the dismissal of Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir as part of a major cabinet reshuffle in the Saudi kingdom.
Several papers also covered the return of regional Arab states to Syria, where they had closed their embassies seven years ago, but are now queuing up to resume their diplomatic missions.
The secret visit of US President Donald Trump to Iraq and the harsh reactions of Iraqi people and officials also received great coverage.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Khashoggi’s Murder to Have a Victim Bigger than Jubeir, Maybe Bin Salman!
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Possibility of Clash between Turkey, Syria
2- Secrets behind Trump’s Secret Visit to Iraq
Ebtekar:
1- Jubeir Dismissed by King Salman after Obeying Dictator’s Orders
2- Unwanted Guest in Iraq
Etemad:
1- Commander of Iranian Forces in Iraq War Sparks Controversy with His Tweet
* Gen. Mohsen Rezaei: Operation Karbala 4 Was to Deceive Enemy [the failed operation killed thousands of Iranian forces]
2- Victims of Crown Prince’s Survival
Ettela’at:
1- Victory of Syrian People, Government: Reopening of Arab Embassies in Damascus
2- Baghdad Outraged by Trump’s Secret Visit to Iraq
3- Level [Quality] of Life in Iran Higher than Most Regional States: IRGC Chief
Iran:
1- Game of Pawns [on Saudi FM’s dismissal]
2- Against Mafia of Iranian University Entrance Exam (Konkour)
Javan:
1- 7-Trillion-Dollar Ticket of a Sneak Visit!
2- Arab Countries Queue Up for Returning to Syria
3- US Not to Leave Region; It’ll Just Change Its Role
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Iraqi MPs Call for Expulsion of US Military Forces
2- Iran’s Non-Oil Exports Up by 13%
3- Earthquake in Saudi Cabinet: FM, Some Other Ministers Dismissed
Kayhan:
1- Trump Admits Defeat in Region: We Spent $7 Trillion, but We Still Have to Visit Iraq at Night in Secret Way
2- Ambassadors of Reactionary States of Region Returning to Damascus with Disgrace
3- Historic Meeting between Two Prominent Shiite Clerics: Sheikh Issa Qassim, Ayatollah Sistani
Khorasan:
1- Competition for Returning to Syria
* UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt Decide to Resume Diplomatic Missions
2- 5,000 Standard Heaters to Be Distributed in Underdeveloped Province of Sistan and Baluchestan
Shargh:
1- Iran Withdraws Its Forces from Iraq
2- Cabinet Reshuffle to Save Crown Prince
Iran Welcomes Syrian Army’s Entry into Manbij
In a Friday statement, Qassemi said the Islamic Republic of Iran has always underlined the need to respect the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.
Iran views the hoisting of Syria’s national flag in Manbij as a significant step towards establishing the rule of Syria’s legitimate government across the country, he said.
Qassemi also noted that Tehran welcomes the move and considers it a new step towards resolving crisis in the Arab state.
Syrian armed forces entered Manbij after Kurdish YPG militants urged the government in Damascus to protect them in the face of Turkish attacks. In a statement, the Syrian army said it guarantees full security for all Syrian citizens and others present in Manbij.
The army, which entered the Kurdish town after six years, said it is determined to defeat all invaders and called on Syrians to preserve the country’s sovereignty.
Iran Acquires Knowledge of Sending Space Cargo to Orbit
Designed and produced by Iran’s Space Research Centre, the new Orbit Transfer System is set to move satellites from low to medium (6,000 to 7,000 kilometers) earth orbits, Samimi said.
“A number of Iranian universities took part in the project. Amirkabir and Sharif universities cooperated respectively in the technology development and titanium structures and thruster control systems,” Samimi was quoted as saying in a report by Mehr news agency.
According to the Iranian official, the system serves as a significant step towards launching communication satellites into the orbit as well as transferring space cargo.
“Transferring space cargo to high Earth orbits is among the main technological development needs of our country,” he said, adding the achievement is totally homegrown.
Among the by-products of the project, he said, one can also refer to a number of technologies created for the first time in Iran including solid-propellant engine with a titanium body, a 3D Grain and 290 second special strike, titanium welding technology, orbit transfer system, thruster control and Lightband Separation technologies.
He also referred to the main features of the new system and said it can simultaneously run several satellite technologies to transfer space cargos to the orbit.
“The new system enjoys a strong propelled engine and a relatively low weight on the one hand and advanced control sub-systems on the other hand,” he noted.
Samimi said the new system is smart, and in case of any loss of connection with the earth, the central computer system begins to operate based on some pre-planned algorithms at an acceptable level of accuracy.
For a brief review of Iran’s achievements in various fields of science and technology, check the book “Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review”
“The idea to design and develop the Orbit Transfer System was initiated in 2014. The first engineering model of the system was created in 2015 and unveiled in a ceremony by President Hassan Rouhani. It is now undergoing its final tests,” he said.
Elaborating on the tests the system has undergone, he said at the engineering phase, the system underwent 25 tests in terms of performance and environment resistance. It has already passed some environment tests like heat-vacuum, vibration, electromagnetic compatibility, shaft alignment and leakage tests. The whole system has already been assembled for quality tests.”
Performance tests of the system have been conducted at various temperature and vibrating conditions and other related tests have already been made by Iran’s Space Research Centre.
Iran FM Laments Europe Dragging Its Feet on JCPOA
The Iranian minister said Iran’s hands are not tied on JCPOA and Iran will tread in alternative paths if it is disappointed with Europe.
“Following the US withdrawal from the accord, we have lots of options and we will use these options whenever it is within national interests,” he said, speaking in a recent interview with the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV channel.
The Iranian minister said it is undesirable for Iran that Europeans have yet to fulfil their pledges, months after the US walked out of the pact.
“Europeans are slow in meeting their commitments under the nuclear deal. We won’t keep waiting unless they take practical steps,” ISNA quoted him as saying.
In May, the US walked out of the nuclear deal and since then it is working to restore its sanctions on Tehran and push the world to cut trade with Iran.
Tehran has announced its continued commitment to the deal is conditional on EU’s binding guarantees assuring Iran its interests will be served if it remains in the deal.
The EU has offered Iran a support package to compensate for the US pullout, which obliges the European Investment Bank to support EU firms willing to enter Iranian markets, and creates a special payment mechanism, known as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), to facilitate trade with Iran.
Iran has announced the package is acceptable at the macro level, but talks on the details of the package have led to nowhere after several months.
