Schools located in low-risk areas of Iran have been allowed to reopen as of Saturday, May 16, 2020. Some classes are being held while observing social distancing protocols.
Iran, Russia Dismiss Reports of Deal on Removal of Assad
A senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian Parliament speaker dismissed the rumours of an agreement between Iran and Russia over the resignation of the legitimate President of the Syrian Republic, saying such lies are the new tricks by the American-Zionist media.
In a tweet on Sunday, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that Bashar al-Assad is the legitimate president of Syria and the great leader of the fight against Takfiri terrorism in the Arab world.
“Report of a deal between Iran and Russia for his resignation is a big lie and a game by the US-Zionist media. Tehran strongly supports the sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity of Syria,” reads his tweet.
Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador to Tehran also said Iran and Russia do not decide on the future of the Syrian people and the president of that country.
In an interview with Mehr News Agency, Levan Dzhagaryan added the future of Bashar al-Assad and Syria will be decided by the people of this country through transparent and free elections.
“We, as friendly foreign countries, must help the Syrian people to restore peace and pave the way for the continuation of the political process in this country,” underlined Dzhagaryan.
He further noted that these kinds of rumours have been spread by countries that oppose the successful function of the Astana process.
“These countries are against international law and want to forcibly overthrow the legitimate government. So, if a government is not well-matched with the United States and its allies, they will impose sanctions and try to remove that government illegally.”
In the end, Dzhagayan reiterated that Moscow has a very good relationship with Bashar al-Assad and his legitimate government, and the two countries will continue to work together.
Iran’s Defence Minister Pledges Full Support for New Iraqi Government
On a video call with new Iraqi Defense Minister Juma Anad Saadoun on Sunday, General Hatami stressed the need to promote defence cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad to ensure regional stability and security.
Congratulating the Iraqi minister on taking office, the Iranian general said the Islamic Republic is eager to provide all of its capacities for Iraq.
“We seek to become strategic partners and turn our relations into a successful paradigm of cooperation,” the Iranian defence minister added.
Highlighting the common historical, cultural and religious values between the Iranian and Iraqi nations, Hatami expressed satisfaction with the formation of the new Iraqi government on the basis of national consensus and in line with the interests of all Iraqi ethnic and religious groups.
“Iran’s principled policy is (supporting) a united, independent and powerful Iraq with the participation of all ethnic groups and religions,” the Iranian minister noted.
He further wished the new government of Iraq success in fulfilling the national demands, improving the economic situation and fighting against the coronavirus, and invited the incoming defence minister of Iraq to pay an official visit to Iran.
General Hatami finally noted that the Iranian Defence Ministry is going to donate a consignment of COVID-19 diagnostic test kits and other coronavirus-related medical supplies to the Iraqi embassy in Tehran.
In a telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed unflinching support for the new Iraqi government, stressing the need to further enhance bilateral relations and work towards the implementation of the joint agreements.
Iran’s Trade with Venezuela Has Nothing to Do with Anyone Else: Spokesman
In comments on Saturday, Rabiei said “Venezuela and Iran are both independent states that have had and will continue to have trade relations with each other.”
“We sell goods and buy goods in return. This trade has nothing to do with anyone else,” he noted.
“We have to sell our oil, and we have ways to do it,” Rabiei said.
He made the remarks in reaction to reports that five Iranian tankers are shipping tonnes of gasoline to Venezuela in defiance of US sanctions on both countries.
A senior official in US President Donald Trump’s administration told Reuters on Thursday that the United States was considering measures against Iran in response to the fuel shipment.
The official said Washington has a “high degree of certainty” that the Venezuelan government is paying Iran in gold for the fuel.
There are unconfirmed reports that the US Navy has deployed its USS Detroit (LCS-7), USS Lassen (DDG-82), USS Preble (DDG-88), and USS Farragut (DDG-99) to the Caribbean along with its patrol aircraft Boeing P8-Poseidon for possible encounter with the Iranian vessels.
However, analysts say it is very unlikely that the US makes such a mistake, as it would have serious repercussions for the Trump administration ahead of the November elections.
Iran Devises Homegrown Ultrasonic Power Supply Used to Produce Protective Masks
When the three layers of protective masks are sewn together, the manufacturer needs an ultrasonic power supply to heat the masks to complete the process.
These days, due to the increasing global demand for face masks amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the demand for this device has also increased considerably.
The CEO of an Iranian knowledge-based company producing these power supplies says the price of a similar Chinese low-quality sample is about 2,500 dollars, while a domestically-made device is offered half-price.
The CEO of the company says two of the company’s three founders are faculty members, and it’s important for the company to do more research.
Iran is producing many of the equipment and devices needed by factories manufacturing products to deal with the coronavirus amid the US sanctions.
Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari recently stated that with the efforts of knowledge-based companies, the country is almost self-sufficient in producing all major products needed to deal with COVID-19.
“The development of equipment such as ultrasonic power supply made the country needless to import masks, and this caused dozens of workshops and mosques to produce masks across the country,” said Sattari in a visit to Shiraz.
Iran Unveils Advanced Protective Suit for Medical Staff
Seven types of the medical clothing have been produced in a short period of time using domestically-made fabrics, the government’s official website reported Saturday.
“The latest and most advanced example is made of a type of domestic fabric which is particle-resistant, but the breath of the staff can be transmitted outside easily,” the report said.
During a ceremony held at the health ministry, Deputy Health Minister Mohammad Reza Shanesaz said in the first days of the corona outbreak in the country, the government faced many problems in providing personal items and protective equipment to the medical staff.
“For medical clothing and its fabrics, we were completely dependent on foreign countries. Of course, two to five thousand protective clothing were produced every day using imported fabrics, but the need reached 100,000 per day,” he noted.
However, he added, in less than two months, the country’s need to protective suits was met with much cheaper products in comparison with foreign ones, and now Iran can export these products.
Iran Culture in Photos: Tomb of Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam Neishabouri was a Persian philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and poet who lived in the Saljuq era.
The tomb of this famous poet in Neishabour, Khorasan Razavi Province, is a tourist attraction in his hometown.
Images of the tomb released online by Tasnim News Agency:
Afghanistan Lauds COVID-19 Medical Care for Nationals in Iran
Director-General of the Iranian Interior Ministry’s Department of Foreign Nationals and Migrants, Mahdi Mahmoudi, says the Islamic Republic’s effective humanitarian measures in the treatment of foreigners infected with the novel coronavirus have drawn appreciation from Kabul.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has commended the Islamic Republic and the governors of Iran’s border provinces several times for treating the Afghan patients and offering humanitarian supports for the migrants after the outbreak of COVID-19, he noted.
The consulates of Afghanistan in Iran’s provinces of Khorasan Razavi and Sistan and Balouchestan have sent messages of gratitude to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Mahmoudi said.
The official emphasized that Iran pursues the policy of offering medial services and healthcare support for all people without discrimination, noting that the whole foreign citizens infected with coronavirus in Iran receive free treatment at the hospitals across the country.
Since the outbreak of coronavirus in Iran in February, the Afghan migrants and residents in the country have received free medical supplies such as disinfectants, masks and gloves, he noted.
According to Mahmoudi, around 6,000 foreign families in Iran have received financial assistance and personal protective kits from the Iranian government, including masks, eyewear, gloves, disinfectants, sanitary gel, and medicines.
In April, the Iranian Defense Ministry provided Afghanistan with a consignment of coronavirus diagnostic test kits and voiced readiness to share the experiences gained by the Iranian military forces with Afghanistan.
Iran has hosted Afghan refugees since the late 1970s following the occupation of their country by the Soviet Union troops. Although many of those refugees have returned to their country voluntarily, there are still hundreds of thousands of documented and undocumented Afghans in Iran.
Why Are Scholarships Important for Students’ Life?
College cost is ever-increasing, and it is estimated that four-year tuition and fees are increasing by 5% every year. While parents understand the value of their children’s education, the number of families that can afford the increasing cost of a college education has declined.
Apart from the tuition fee, the cost of college living, including food, books, and supplies, is also getting more expensive. The fact that the state support for students has substantially declined does make the situation any better. These are among the main aspects that highlight the importance of scholarship.
To increase awareness of the benefits of scholarships, high school teachers often require students to write academic essays revolving around college programs, such as the best degree course to take and the type of programs to apply. To understand the concepts that sensitize students on what to expect when planning to join college look at these essay examples by Samplius. Some of these free samples also expand on the impact of the scholarship on students.
Why You Should Get a Scholarship
They Provide Financial Aid
With the rising cost of tuition fees and college cost of living, scholarship funds can be used to cover these costs.
Can Help You Get into Your Preferential University
Winning such a grant is a great step to increasing your chances of getting admission to your preferential university. Colleges are always looking for students with recognized accomplishments, and a merit scholarship confirms you are worth the admission.
Increases Your Chances of Studying Abroad
If your dream is to study abroad, then securing a grant is one of the best. Some programs cover all your expenses, which will help you settle easily.
Scholarships Make Your Resume Stand Out
Apart from the financial benefit, another importance of scholarships is an exceptional personal benefit. A grant makes your resume stand out, which could boost your chances of landing your dream job.
Is Getting a Scholarship Hard?
Some are easy to get, while others are quite hard. Many universities, mainly private institutions, have programs where every applicant is considered. However, you are required to meet the set criteria to attain the opportunities. For example, you might be required to achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher in high school. These are some of the ‘easy’ to get.
On the other hand, grants offered by other organizations or websites are quite ‘hard’ to get since only a few of the hundred applicants can qualify.
How to Get Scholarships
There are various ways you can secure a scholarship, but we will discuss three main strategies that will increase your chances of landing the best.
Step 1: An Abundance Mindset- Apply
Hoping to get a college scholarship will not help. You need to be hungry for the opportunity and apply to as many as possible. This will increase your chances of landing several from which you can choose the most beneficial.
Step 2: Identify Those That Most People Don’t Apply
Mostly target grants that pay thousands and those that few people apply. Some of the resources you can use to filter these opportunities include; scholarship search sites, career centers, library, and from friends and family.
Step 3: Apply for Those Identified in Step 2
After identifying the available scholarship opportunities, identify those worth applying. However, we recommend applying for ALL of them. This might be a daunting task, but this will give a wide range of options to select from when most of the applications go through.
Final Word
College scholarships are essential since they help relieve some education costs and also boost your chances of enrolling in your dream university. However, securing these grants can be such a pain, and this is the reason why we have highlighted three main strategies to help you secure a scholarship.
A Quick Guide On Idea Software and How It Works
A business’s success is closely related to how often it brings innovation to the industry. However, most companies are less enthusiastic about managing their ideas than coming up with one. For that, an idea software or idea management software is a fantastic tool. It will bring structure to the entire process and assist in the growth of a company.
What Is Idea Management Software?
Idea management is a structured process of collecting, organizing, developing, and implementing ideas. An idea software or idea management software makes this process more streamlined.
Having an idea management software would help in:
- Gathering ideas more efficiently.
- Understanding and defining idea development and its requirements.
- Developing an idea into a fail-proof concept.
- Implementation of ideas into compelling products with high ROI.
Why Is It Important?
Better Communication
With an idea management software, employees can pitch in their ideas and gain the needed attention without much struggle. As idea management brings in the required structure, notifying the key decision-makers on what needs to be done is far easier than with the traditional methods.
Offer Better Feedback
With idea management, offering feedback is smooth as each employee will understand their importance in the system. This would further help in rectifying the issues and promote better engagement of employees.
Identify Weak Links
An idea management software makes it easier for identifying the stages in which projects get stuck. Such realizations will help in notifying the stakeholders for more attention and effectively allocating resources.
Better Resource Management
An organization’s resources will have several tasks at hand. Knowing who is doing what and when each resource would be available is a troublesome process. With idea management, task assignment becomes more organized.
Reduce Failure Rate
Most ideas will fail. But with a systematic approach, the rate of failure can be hacked. As idea management involves organizing ideas and channeling resources to only the promising ones, there will be a significant reduction in the rate of failures.
Stand Apart
Businesses succeed or fail, even before you know it. With the industry being increasingly competitive, innovation is the only way a company can stand apart from the rest.
What Are The Benefits Of An Idea Management Software?
Surprisingly, an idea management software brings benefits for an entire organization, irrespective of seniority or department. Here are some of the critical advantages of having an idea management software.
- The pace of ideation and its evaluation will increase.
- Employees can effectively convey their ideas and ensure it don’t get lost in the pool.
- Employee engagement rates will significantly improve as ideation becomes a shared responsibility.
- Developing new products will increase revenue streams.
- Internal communication and collaboration will improve.
- Understanding customers and their needs will give a competitive advantage.
- Will help in improving existing processes and reduce resource wastage.
The Idea Management Process
Here are the steps to make your idea management process a productive one.
Set Goals
Once you decide to start an idea management process, take the time to assess your goals and objectives for this mission.
What benefits or outcomes do you expect from this process? Is there a time frame within which you are expecting some specific results?
The best thing to do – discuss it with your colleagues. Let them know the process in its entirety. This will make the process more efficient.
Discuss Strategies For Ideation
Ideas can come anywhere, anytime. What matters is how adept you are to capture them. While ideation isn’t restricted to a particular level of employees, the key decision-makers must invest more time to listen and implement them.
Facilitate An Environment For Ideation
This is one of the essential elements of a successful ideation process. An organization must make ideation a habit and strive to provide the environment for the same. Along with conducting events for “idea hacks,” the organization must allow any employee to chip in their ideas.
Encourage Collaborative Efforts
An idea might sprout in a solo effort, but developing and implementing it takes a team. An idea management software would facilitate a structured space for brainstorming and organizing ideas. This would further help in understanding the value of each concept and assess whether it is worth the time and effort.
Assess The Ideas
This step quantifies your efforts in brainstorming and discussing ideas. The types of ideas you have gathered may or may not align well with your organization’s goals. Assessing the ideas and determining its profitability will help the organization to decide on channeling their resources.
Implement
Once the organization finds ideas capable of bringing high ROI, it is time to put these ideas into action. By allocating resources accordingly and reviewing progress, the idea will soon take shape into a compelling product.
Recognize Efforts
The ideation process doesn’t end with the end product. Instead, the efforts have to be recognized and celebrated. This would energize the employees and compel them to contribute more.
Review
As you can see, the entire process of ideation is a reflection of a company’s progress in work culture. Each iteration of such processes will bring about several internal aspects that need further tweaking.
Was the process as productive as you expected it to be?
Are there any specific revelations that you came across during the process?
Did the process add value to the company’s progress?
Discuss these with your peers, and make sure you record their feedback as well. After all, idea management is all about how effectively you can utilize ideas for success and minimize chances of failures.
Boost Your Progress
As you can see, most companies fail to notice ideas. Little do they realize that it has the potential even to cause a disruptive innovation within the organization.
It is important to remember that idea management is not just a process – it is a cultural change in an organization for continued growth. However, it takes time and effort to standardize and make it open to the entire workforce. With an idea management software, this part is made easier.
