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COVID-19 in Iran: Which Shops Must Close, Which Must Remain Open?

Iran Palladium mall

Based on the plan, jobs and occupations have been divided into three groups. Some of them must close down. Some others must restrict the scope of their activities and the rest must continue their operation.

Occupations and centres that must close down are:

  • Universities, schools, kindergartens
  • Shopping centres and malls
  • Exhibitions
  • Laundromats, luxury stuff shops, toy shops
  • Video game cafes, coffee shops, teahouses, cafeterias
  • Carpet shops, smoking stuff shops
  • Reception halls and those who hold ceremonies and gatherings
  • Swimming pools, gyms, parks, funfairs, and zoos
  • Centres for social, cultural, and religious ceremonies
  • Makeshift daily and weekly markets
  • Institutions, museums, cinemas, and theatres
  • Home appliance and gift shops
  • Digital printing, ateliers, photo shops
  • Hostels, accommodation centres, villas for rent, and interior designing shops
  • Home appliance shops, confectionaries, clothing and clothes shops
  • Taylor shops, stationery shops
  • Building material shops, iron and girder shops
  • Spare parts shops
  • Printing houses

 

Occupations that must restrict their activities are:

  • Government service offices
  • Police+10 offices
  • Judiciary service offices
  • Notaries
  • Civil electronic service centres
  • Exchange offices
  • Banks
  • Hotels
  • Intercity terminals, rail stations, airports

Coronavirus online testOccupations that must not shut down are:

  • Chain stores that procure people’s essential needs
  • Supermarkets, vegetable and fruits shops
  • Meat shops including butcheries, and those which sell chicken and fish meat
  • Fruit and vegetable markets
  • Dairy stores
  • Bakeries
  • Catering centres, and delivery food shops
  • Gas and CNG stations
  • Home and car maintenance centres
  • Private and public health centres
  • Veterinary clinics and shops
  • Food and drug distribution centres
  • Ambulance centres
  • Drugstores

Iran Launches Online Coronavirus Test for Non-Iranian Nationals

FM Zarif Congratulates IRGC Personnel on National Day

FM Zarif Congratulates IRGC Personnel on National Day

In his Friday message, Foreign Minister Zarif commemorated the martyred commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, and praised the efforts made by the “guards of the country’s security” these days along with the courageous Army forces, the powerful Law Enforcement forces, and the Iranian medical staff and guards of the people’s healthcare.

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the third of Sha’ban (Saturday) which is the birthday of Imam Hussein (PBUH) is celebrated as the Day of “Guards Corps”.

Iran Central Bank Seeking to Access IMF’s Rapid Financial Instrument

Foreign ministery

In a memo on Friday, Abdolnasser Hemmati said the bank will also work towards gaining access to the Rapid Financial Instrument of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“From an economic perspective, people’s lives are under the pressure of unfair and all-out sanctions as well as the coronavirus outbreak, and require serious and immediate support by officials,” he said.

“Continuing to pursue its active approach and make efforts, and with the cooperation and backing of the respected foreign minister, the Central Bank will, using resources which belong to Iran, do its utmost to provide the forex resources needed by the country in order to provide medications as well as medical equipment and humanitarian aid, and will continue its efforts,” he noted.

“Seeking to gain access to the IMF’s Rapid Financial Instrument as Iran’s inalienable and legal right, and seeking to release the forex resources of the Central Bank of Iran which have been illegally frozen under the pressure of the US government, are all part of those efforts,” he added.

“In both cases, efforts have had a positive trend so far,” he said.

The official underscored that Iran’s efforts are geared to get restrictions remove in order to be able to transfer financial resources of the Central Bank of Iran to keep providing medicines and equipment to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

“Everybody knows that the sensitive current situation requires that countries face no restrictions in the global fight against this scourge in order to meet urgent and humanitarian needs,” added the memo.

He said the Central Bank of Iran will definitely try its utmost to solve people’s financial problems as it did before the coronavirus outbreak.

Matlab Khan; Largest Open-Air Mosque in Iran

Matlab Khan mosque has distinguishing architectural features that have made it unique among the other historic mosques in Iran.

With a mihrab (a semicircular niche in the wall of mosque indicating the qibla) 12.5 metres in height and a 15-metres-high iwan (a large arched entrance), the mosque has one of the highest mihrabs and iwans among the whole mosques in Iran.

Located in the central part of Khoy, Matlab Khan mosque has a large, open-air square shabestan (a space usually used during summers) surrounded by two-story chambers, high “shahneshin”s (twin-columned iwans) and a very large iwan.

The upper parts of the mihrab at the entrance of shabestan are decorated with big stucco Muqarnas (a form of ornamented vaulting in Islamic architecture). In the upper story, special areas have been built with wooden banisters at the four corners of shabestan for women to sit. Worshippers can reach those areas by walking up the stairs built in the four corners of the courtyard.

The mosque was constructed during the Ilkhanid dynasty in the central and old part of Khoy. The mosque was reportedly destroyed once, and reconstructed around 190 year ago under the auspices of Matlab Khan, a grandchild of Sheikh Bahai, who was a special goldsmith working for Abbas Mirza -a Qajar crown prince of Persia and governor of Azerbaijan.

After reconstruction, the mosque was named after Matlab Khan.

What follows are photos of the mosque retrieved from various sources:

How to Choose a Reliable Online Game

As technology improves on an almost daily basis, these online platforms have enhanced their gameplay, security, and features in such a way that the industry is now booming, an example of which can be seen in https://www.bobcasino.com/ tournaments.

And with more and more people now turning to the internet for entertainment, there’s no sign of that boom slowing down any time soon.

But when it comes to choosing an online casino, it’s not quite so straightforward. With a seemingly endless list of providers out there, how do you spot the good from the bad? And how do you know you’re protected every step of the way?

Well, it’s actually not all that difficult. Just follow a few simple steps and finding a reliable casino platform is quite simple.

Look for recognizable brand names

Okay, so this one is an obvious one — look for the names you know. It’s the same with practically anything you purchase be it a product or service. You always go with a reputable name. Think about the ads you see for online casinos on TV. The chances are that if they can afford to pay for TV commercials, then they’re a pretty big player in the industry.

You’ll also find that many of the bigger casinos offer free bets and credits for new players. For example, gaming giant Paddy Power offers a free bonus to all new customers on signing up. That’s another reason to look for those recognizable names.

Bigger names also have more money to invest in the security of their platform (more on that later), while it will also be easier for you to do a little research on their customer service. And that brings us to our next point.

Do your research

That means checking out online reviews in impartial forums. It doesn’t mean reading the testimonials on the casino’s page or social media pages. Look to Google to help you find what people are saying about the provider in question.

You want to know how quickly they respond to customer queries and how easy it is to get in touch with them. You also want to make sure that there are no major issues with payouts. Some smaller online casinos take forever to process withdrawals, so make sure to double check what existing customers of the casino are saying.

Remember though, that you will find negative feedback on practically any casino in the market. Don’t take one negative review as decisive. Dig deeper and get a broader picture of what customers are saying before making your final decision.

Check the small print

Yes, we know, no one reads the small print ever! But in some cases, you really must, especially when it comes to matters of personal finance. Read the terms and conditions and pay particular attention to any mentions of additional fees for specific transactions. Any additional charges should be clearly visible on the website and not hidden in the terms and conditions.

Also check the withdrawal times and payment methods. Generally speaking, it can take as long as a week to process a withdrawal, but this is often down to the banks and not the provider. Just double check that there’s nothing too unreasonable in there such as a 30-day withdrawal process.

 

Is it secure?

As we mentioned earlier, an online casino will need to store your personal information for deposits and withdrawals so you want to know that they are serious about their security.

First up, they should be using well-known and trusted payment processors such as Visa, PayPal, Neteller, etc. These trusted processors add and additional layer of security to your transactions with the casino.

They should also be registered with and licensed by the local gaming authority where their head office is based. This could be anywhere in the world such as Malta, the United Kingdom, Canada, or several states in the US. But wherever they are based, they simply must have a recognized license. This should be easy to spot at the bottom of the home page.

Licensed online casino providers need to follow extremely strict guidelines in order to protect their players and the information that they store on their servers. Once a provider is licensed, they should have fulfilled their legal obligations which is always a good thing for you, the customer.

Is it popular?

An online casino’s popularity is a good indicator of how well they handle their business. After all, you won’t find too many players on a platform that isn’t secure or doesn’t deal with customer queries very well. You’ll know it’s a popular platform by checking how many registered users it has or by simply seeing what people are saying about it online (do your research, remember?)

However, that’s not the only benefit to opting for a popular casino. If you like to play games that involve you playing against other players and not just the casino, then you’ll want a popular platform with an extensive database of registered users. This means that whenever you feel like playing a game like poker, you’ll always be able to find a table to sit at. A healthy flow of players through the casino also means that any progressive jackpots will be worth playing too.

Popular online casinos will also invest their time and money into providing more gaming opportunities for its players. This means that you can expect to see new slots or perhaps online tournaments taking place on the platform on a regular basis.

 

So there you have it. As you can see, finding a reliable online casino doesn’t actually have to be all that hard. All you need to do is take your time, read online reviews, and do your homework! Who knows, find the right platform and with a little luck and a hell of a lot of hard work, you might become the next Ali Reza Fatehi. Okay, so maybe that’s a little pie in the sky, but hey, you have to set your sights high, right?

 

How to Buy a Perfect Villa: The Complete Guide

Investing in a Villa is a Major Financial Move

When you have decided to invest in a villa, you may find varied options. But the point is, it is one of the most crucial financial decisions which you make.

On average, the time taken to complete the sale of a villa may be anywhere between three to eight months. This means, unlike the budget homes which are fast-moving commodities, villas take time.

Moreover, after buying a villa, reselling it to find other properties will cost you both time and money. Villas or gated communities you can find them in Frisco for prices ranging from $200,000 to $7,000,000. And the price is determined by the number of stories, rooms, etc.

 

The Perks of Owning a Villa in Frisco

As an independent home, a villa provides you the best of both worlds, which otherwise an apartment community has to offer. While villas too form a community, there is ample space and amenities, which are sometimes shared and often times monopolized.

Also, the value of land increases year after year. Thus, the worth of your property is more when you consider the land involved. Thus, villas make for the best form a long-time investment.

Nevertheless, the return on investment although slow is often a given. Meaning, if at all if you have to sell the villa, the value will only magnify in the future.

Privacy and a healthier atmosphere are yet another advantage a villa offers. Very often, villas are widely spaced. Providing ample scope for space. This also means less noise. Thus, it is ideal when privacy is your major concern.

 

Villas are Ideal for Long-term Investment

Although a villa is not a fast-selling commodity, with the right steps you can gain yours in a surprisingly quick time. And, to achieve this, you must seek the services of realtors having expertise with villas.

One attribute of such reliable agents is the fact that they update the list of properties every week, proving a broad range of options to their clientele.

They will understand your needs not just at your level, but also consider the choices and preferences of your family. While the reasons justified by the agents may be plenty, until you develop a connection with the villa, there is no satisfaction in buying.

Thus, get your priorities straight so that you are very clear of what you are anticipating. Likewise, the realtor will introduce you to villas for sale near you in Frisco which are for your liking.

 

When you are looking for villas in Frisco, the city will present you with newly constructed and aesthetically upgraded classical architecture. In fact, it is one of those cities which is suitable for relocation or investing in holiday villas.

 

Geopolitics of Nowruz: Saving Persian Culture From Elimination

Geopolitics of Iranian New Year Festival
The map show the regions where Nowruz is celebrated.

Nowruz, the Iranian New Year festival, is the most outstanding Iranian festival. This long-standing tradition has incredibly ridden out storms. In an opinion piece published by Iran-e Farda in March 2015, Parviz Piran tried to look at this traditional festival as a geopolitical phenomenon and bring its untapped potential to attention. What appears below is a partial translation of his remarks that appeared in the magazine:

 

Nowruz, Festival of Joy

Almost all references on Nowruz unanimously suggest that this grand celebration dates back to before the Medes era, a time when our distant ancestors divided a year into two seasons: summer and winter.Nowruz Celebration Iran Kurdestan

The second most important Iranian festival after Nowruz is Mehregan. Nowruz ushers in the beginning of growth, greenness and work, while Mehregan marks the harvest season and the time when people brace themselves for the cold, rain and snowfall.

The love of ancient Iranians for joy was reflected in their traditions which brought them together. I believe their willingness to be happy and jubilant was intertwined with Nowruz. In fact, this festival which marks the turn of the year was deemed as a symbol of spiritual transformation, new outfits, gifts and children’s joyfulness.

 

Historical Bond Between Generations and Ethnicities

Another important aspect of Nowruz is that it was believed to be the time when the souls of the dead would reunite with them. Such a belief can establish a symbolic bond between generations, bringing back memories of past generations and therefore contribute to the reconstruction of the historical identity of all Iranian ethnicities.Nowruz

Studies into ethnic cultures indicate that all Iranian ethnic groups, particularly the Kurds and the Azeris, have played a substantial role in shaping the popularity and durability of Nowruz.

This brief note about Nowruz is aimed at highlighting the untapped potential of Nowruz. If this potential went unheeded, like many other concepts, the material and spiritual culture of the Iranians would be hijacked and distorted.

 

Geopolitical Efforts to Eliminate Nowruz

I never imagined that a time would come when newly-formed governments would use politics to devise an utterly fabricated and distorted history for their own people and fill their minds with a great deal of animosity. That is evident in their constant efforts to eliminate the language of Farsi from their lives and deny the nations living not far beyond our borders the legacy that we share.

Nowruz in Tajikistan
Nowruz in Tajikistan. Photo by Anadolu

Such attempts are made as Farsi is as important to all regional ethnicities as English is to the Europeans. Elimination of Farsi will lead to exclusion of an important part of culture from the history of regional countries and thus will deal a heavy blow to history of the countries which are linked through the strong bonds of culture. Understanding this concept will shed light on the true position of the Iranian New Year festival, introducing it as a geopolitical and geostrategic phenomenon.

The unfulfilled potential of Nowruz should be reflected in Iran’s foreign policy and political culture. Nowruz could replace the extravagant events which have proved to be inefficient. I hope this brief analysis can pave the way for a dialog aimed at promoting peace and friendship in the region.

Oil Prices Face Shaky Outlook

Russia/OPEC+ Price War

Let’s start at the beginning. In early March, talks between oil’s two biggest producers collapsed, resulting in Moscow and Riyadh both threatening to drive up production, subsequently lowering the price per barrel by around 25%. Shockwaves rippled through financial markets, causing one of the biggest sell-offs since the 2008 financial crisis. Petroleum and drilling corporations saw the value of their shares dragged down in the process.

Experts predicted that the price war could potentially destroy three years of work to reduce production in less than a month. David Tawil, President of Maglan Capital in New York believes that this clash between the two big oil players will have untold effects across the entire industry, describing future markets as “chaotic” and “overwhelming”. As if to demonstrate this point, Exxon Mobil saw the biggest stock drop in 11 years, whilst shares of Hess, Occidental Petroleum, and Chevron all suffered double-digit losses.

US Intervention

To counter this imbalance between supply and demand, US President Donald Trump announced that his Department of Energy would buy up crude oil for the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve (SPR), saying of the reserve that he would “fill it right to the top”. In response, prices rebounded by around 5%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate prices lifted by $1.61, or 5.1%, to reach $33.13 per barrel, comparable to the international benchmark, Brent crude, which rose by $1.71, or 5.1%, to trade at $34.93 per barrel.

Coronavirus Effect on Demand

With the worst effects of the price war temporarily alleviated, investors breathed a sigh of relief, but then, the effects of Coronavirus began to play out. On Wednesday 18th, crude oil prices plummeted again by a further 24%, the lowest levels since 2002. As the day went on it became apparent that COVID-19 is more than just a flash in the pan. With isolation and lockdowns potentially stretching into the summer or even further, people simply aren’t going to be travelling anywhere. Whether it’s the countless grounded domestic and international flights, or simply the fact that commuters are working from home, the value once held by oil has all but evaporated overnight.

In a move that can only be considered as irresponsible, rather than stabilising the market, Russia has refused to cut production as it continues its plan to drown US shale producers in a flood of cheap crude oil. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia chose to slash prices and increase production, essentially to spite Russia. Prices are expected to continue to drop.

The Future Outlook 

The combination of price war and lack of demand means that it’s a strange time for crude oil trading, with demand forecasts changing by the day. However, a steep drop such as this, could only mean an inevitable, profitable rise at some point in the future. In the meantime, Goldman Sachs conservatively estimates that 2020 demand will drop by 1.1 Million barrels per day, but Rystad Energy says the drop in demand will be closer to 2.8 Million barrels in 2020. They predict April alone will see a demand drop of around 11 Million barrels as travel restrictions begin to take full effect, calling the effect an “atomic bomb in the oil markets”. A big part of this is down to reduced air travel, which is a huge consumer of oil in the form of jet fuel: the number of yearly commercial flights is expected to drop by 20% for 2020.

Michael Lynch, President of Strategic Energy & Economic Research describes the oil market as the worst he has ever seen it. One of the few positives to look forward to is that with demand being so low, the average consumer may well see a large price drop at the pumps, which is sure to be a welcome sight in upcoming times. As far as long term predictions go, most organisations made their forecasts reaching into 2021 and beyond before Coronavirus really took hold of the world and the economy. Eventually, normality will return to the world, and oil demand, and prices will bounce back, but for the coming months, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Learn How to Combine Work, Personal Life, and Studies

For instance, you cannot eliminate certain activities in your personal life due to education since you can combine work, own life, and studies by applying specific tips. So, continue reading this article if you want to learn how to connect work and personal life and still get the time to attend all your classes.

If you are pursuing a degree program, there is a likelihood to stay in school for two to three semesters. Every semester, there are many courses that a student has to attend; in most cases, they are usually three or three. However, most universities provide students to choose the kind of program they want to pursue in a given semester period.

Apart from that, you can decide to pursue a part-time program, which allows you to attend your activities and personal life. However, it might take more time before you complete your course compared to a full-time student. For example, in case you are pursuing a master’s program, you might spend about four years in college compared to full-time students who have been scheduled to complete the same course within two years.

5 Tips to Use When Combining Work and Studies

Learn How to Combine Work, Personal Life, and StudiesA lot of students who are combining work and studies are advised to pursue online programs to get enough time to concentrate on their personal life and career. As a college student aspiring to combine your own life, work, and studies, it is advisable to use the tips discussed below. These are

  • Avoid procrastination

Avoiding the habit of rescheduling your events saves the time you might spend trying to complete your assignments during the last minute. Procrastination results in pilling up of work hence increasing the amount of work, which requires your attention. As such, you will be more stressed trying to complete your work compared to if you did your homework on time. If you have no time or knowledge to complete all your assignments, you can hire an essay writer to do them for you.

  • Secure a day off

Personal life, work, and studies are three different things, which still require your attention. In that case, it is essential to secure a day, which will give you enough time to focus on a single element in life to ensure that you do it correctly. This helps you to balance work and personal life effectively without getting confused with the bulk of tasks you have to complete within a single day. Irrespective of how busy you are, it is advisable to create time for ‘self-regulation’ activities since that helps to rejuvenate your brain before embarking on a new task.

  • Don’t multitask

Although multitasking might sound so attractive to some students, it is not always advisable to do so if you want to do something correctly. Apart from limiting the chances of doing something the best way, it consumes a lot of your energy since your concentration will be divided to focus on many activities at the same time. The best way to complete all your activities ideally is to do individual tasks before moving to another one. If you feel like you are burdened with the numerous functions, you can work in blocks on time while taking some rest. However, ensure that you don’t fall into the trap of procrastination.

  • Eliminate distractions

Many people in the modern age are subjected to various disturbances. For instance, there are a lot of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, which might get you tempted to spend most of the time on them. However, if you want to learn how to take control of your studies, personal life, or work, you should learn how to manage your time and avoid the kind of distractions brought by the addiction to social media.

  • Take healthcare measures

To attend to all your activities, it is essential to ensure that you stay healthy. For instance, you cannot go to work if you are ill. In that case, consider taking healthcare measures to ensure that you are energetic to attend to all your endeavours.

Chances of Combining Work, Personal Life, and Studies

Although following up with your activities in which attending all your classes might seem complicated, it is possible if you plan for your time effectively. If you are a fulltime student, there is enough time to concentrate on your studies, but you won’t be able to focus on work. However, part-time students can use the tips discussed in this article to increase the chances of attending to several activities, included classwork.

Iran President Urges Full Implementation of Social-Distancing Plan to Counter COVID-19

US Imperialism More Perilous than Coronavirus: Rouhani

In separate phone conversations with ministers of health, oil and the interior, President Hassan Rouhani emphasized that the plan overseeing the return of holiday makers from their trips should be implemented in such a way that cities’ entry and exit gates are not overwhelmed by travellers.

In his phone conversation with Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, President Rouhani issued the necessary instructions with regards to supplying the petrol needed by travellers. Rouhani said people should be ensured that the trend of petrol supply is not disrupted at all.

“There is no problem with regards to the supply of required petrol, and people should not pay attention to baseless rumours,” said the president.

Coronavirus online test
If you are worried that you may have contracted the Coronavirus, take this test right now.

Also in phone call with Interior Minister Abdoreza Rahmani Fazli, the president touched upon travel restrictions both within and between cities as part of the Social-Distancing Plan.
“All restrictions should be enforced as instructed by the Security, Social and Law Enforcement Committee of the National Commission for Campaign against Coronavirus,” said the presidents.

The president said the instructions should be implemented to the letters, and any leniency or strict action which fall outside the provisions of the instructions should be avoided.
President Rouhani said the Social-Distancing Plan should be implemented in the best way possible.

“This plan aims to ensure people’s health and a centralized management in the fight against the coronavirus, and its implementation should not harm security in the society,” said President Rouhani.

Also in a phone call with Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeid Namaki, the president received new reports on measures adopted by the ministry and the National Commission for Fight against Coronavirus.

“All relevant institutions, especially the ministries of health and the interior, should adopt the necessary measures to give prompt answers and remove ambiguities and counter rumours spreading across the nation,” he said.

Iran Launches Online Coronavirus Test for Non-Iranian Nationals