A main road to southern Tehran leading to the holy shrine of Abdol Azim al-Hasani (AS) in Rey was blocked to motorists to allow a packed crowd to go on the pilgrimage on foot.
Since a couple of years ago, Tehran residents, calling themselves those “left behind” (for not having had the opportunity to take part in the annual Arbaeen march in Iraq), walk long distances from different parts of Tehran to Rey on Arbaeen.
Arbaeen is a national holiday in Iran. It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), in 680 AD.
The Iraqi city of Karbala, which hosts the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS), has attracted millions of pilgrims, even non-Muslims, who create the world’s hugest human gathering in modern history.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Monday highlighted the need to respect religious ceremonies held by Shiite Muslims in the country.
“We have received conflicting news about the incident, and we are closely monitoring relevant developments and news, waiting for the different dimensions of the incident to come to light,” Qassemi told Fars News Agency.
“Initial information about the incident shows clashes erupted between police forces and mourners which left a number of demonstrators dead and wounded. While condemning this killing, we sympathize with the families of those killed,” he added.
He urged Nigerian security forces to exercise self-restraint and stressed that the dignity of peaceful religious ceremonies held by Shiites should be respected.
The spokesman further expressed hope that both sides will, through peaceful and legal means based on respect for civil rights, be able to manage the situation in order to maintain tranquility and stability and prevent further clashes and tension.
At least 10 people were killed in a raid by Nigerian security forces on members of the country’s Shia Muslim community.
Reports by local Nigerian media said scores of people had also been injured after Nigerian security forces opened fire on Muslim worshippers gathering for a procession in Zuba, in Gwagwalada area of the capital Abuja.
Those killed in the attack were members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a group that has been subject to a harsh government crackdown over the past three years.
Local media said the Muslim worshipers had gathered near Abuja from Suleja, in Niger state, for a three-day procession to commemorate the annual Arba’een occasion, which marks the 40th day since the anniversary of the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein.
The head of the Iraqi General Authority for Border Ports, Kazim al-Aqabi, told a press conference on Monday that the visa fee for each pilgrim is $40, and that has generated $80 million for the government.
This Iraqi official stated that the police, security forces and other institutions are involved in providing security.
The Iraqi forces have taken tight security measures on the paths leading to Karbala to prevent any possible attack by the ISIS and other terrorist groups.
Shiites, Sunnis, and people of other faiths from across the world have been on a spiritual journey to the Iraqi city of Karbala since almost three weeks ago. Many of them are from Iran going on foot to the holy Shrine of third Shiite Imam, Hussein ibn Ali, in Karbala.
Over two million Iranians have so far entered the Iraqi territory for this year’s Arba’een.
Many people, mainly Iranians and Iraqis, are doing volunteer work along the routes to Karbala. They offer everything from drinking water, meals, and shoe polishing service to the pilgrims free of charge.
The new Istanbul airport / Photo by Murad Sezer, Reuters
The ceremony, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was attended by a number of presidents, foreign ministers, and other high-ranking officials from several countries of the world.
The massive new airport project is expected to become one of the world’s largest once complete in 2028.
More than 50 foreign dignitaries from at least 18 countries attended the lavish opening ceremony of the first phase of the new facility, called Istanbul Airport, local media reported.
“We see Istanbul Airport as investment not only in our country but also in our region and the world,” Erdogan said at the ceremony which coincided with the 95th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
It is expected that a daily 2,000 aircraft from more than 250 carriers will go through the airport by the end of 2018 to over 350 destinations, said Anadolu.
Constructed at an initial cost of $7.2 billion, the new facility is expected to provide more than $30.65b in revenue for the government and host 90 million passengers by the end of the 2018 and up to 200 million upon completion in 2028.
According to preliminary 2017 figures from the Airport Council International, Atlanta airport in the United States hosted almost 104 million passengers last year.
Next came Beijing with 95.7 million passengers, Dubai with 88.2 million, Tokyo with 85.4 million and Los Angeles with 84.5 million.
Among other officials present at the inauguration ceremony were Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and leaders from Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Albania and Serbia.
In a Monday statement, Qassemi hailed the election in Brazil and wished success for President-elect Jair Bolsonaro.
“We do hope that under the new administration, relations between Tehran and Brasilia will continue to expand and flourish in all economic and political fields,” added Qassemi.
The Iranian spokesperson further noted that Iran and Brazil have a 118-year-old history of bilateral relations, which have always been growing, firmly established and stable.
Far-right politician Bolsonaro won a sweeping victory in Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday.
Bolsonaro had 55.2 percent of the votes in the run-off election against left-wing hopeful Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party, who had 44.8 percent.
The 63-year-old seven-term congressman has vowed to crack down on crime in Brazil’s cities and farm belt by granting police more autonomy to shoot at criminals. He also wants to let more Brazilians buy weapons to fight crime.
As the first step, you should fill your refrigerator with all types of healthy, colourful and nutritious foods. While choosing your foods, you should be very careful about the amount of proteins, antioxidants, vitamins, probiotic products, minerals, fibres and fats within them.
Food security means equal physical and economic access by all people, wherever and whenever, to all healthy, sufficient and nutritious foods for having a healthy and active life.
Malnutrition usually leads to death. 60 percent of children’s death in the world is due to malnutrition. One in ten children who have lost their lives suffered from severe malnutrition. 1.2 to 3 million children in the world die of vitamin A shortage. 20 percent of mothers lose their lives because of iron deficiency anemia. Meanwhile, the high number of low-birth-weight infants is mainly due to their mothers’ weakening diseases.
Disorders resulted from shortage of iodine usually lead to a decrease of 13.5 in IQ. Meanwhile, malnutrition dramatically reduces children’s capabilities in the schools and hampers their educational progress. Families play a leading role in the nutrition of their members. The combination of the family nutrition basket hinges on a number of elements with culture and nutrition knowledge as the most important ones.
For a more detailed review of Iran’s achievments in various fields of science and technology, check the book “Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review”, released by the Science and Technology Department of the Iranian President’s Office.
Each complete and healthy diet is set according to the food pyramid. For example, it’s better for you to have some eggs, avocados and trail mix for breakfast, various types of vegetable soup for lunch and spinach and other vegetables or some plant proteins, fish, meat or rice for dinner.
Note that you don’t need to overuse healthy foods. Eat your food slowly and whenever you feel hungry. Vegetables should be among the main priorities of your healthy diet before proteins and cereals. Meanwhile, care about use of various types of sausage or pickles. These foods usually contain a large amount of sugar, salts and many types of preservatives which are not usually enlisted as the main ingredients of healthy foods.
When you decide to eat a food, view it in a big picture instead of an individual meal. For example, vegetables are ranked as healthiest foods but you should not eat vegetables for breakfast or dinner. If you do so, you wouldn’t have a healthy diet any further and your daily calories are not procured.
So, if you eat vegetable soups for lunch, there is no need any more to have proteins, fats, iron anemia or calcium during breakfast and dinner. Pay attention to the foods you take during each day.
You should be aware whether or not the food you take includes fibres, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins or other healthy ingredients. This helps you to gradually fill your food basket with healthy materials ensuring your own and your family members’ health.
In a post on his Twitter account on Monday, Zarif denounced the attack on the synagogue in the US state of Pennsylvania.
“Extremism and terrorism know no race or religion, and must be condemned in all cases. The world deserves better than to have to live with weaponized demagoguery. Thoughts and prayers with victims of terrorist attack on Pittsburgh synagogue and their loved ones,” the top Iranian diplomat said.
Eleven people were killed and 6 others were injured when a 46-year-old man opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning.
FBI said the attacker used an assault rifle and three handguns inside the synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of the city.
Three experts from the World Crafts Council, an affiliate of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), have arrived in the Iranian city of Meybod to look into the possibility of internationally registering the Zilu woven in Meybod, Yazd province.
“These experts, all of whom are women coming from India, Kuwait and Iran, have visited the Meybod Zilu Weavers’ Company, the Nari-Qaleh Cooperatives, the Shah-Abbasi Complex, and Zilu weaving workshops, the Zilu museum, and an exhibition showcasing photos and documents related to this art and industry,” said Alireza Abolhassani, a deputy governor of Meybod.
“We have made numerous efforts to have the Meybod Zilu registered internationally. This city has great potential and we have revived its potentialities over the past two months and are totally hopeful that we will achieve the desired result,” he said.
The official said a plan is underway to make a 400-square-metre tile with a Zilu design.
Meanwhile, head of the World Craft Council’s Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) Ghada Hijjawi-Qaddumi hailed the Zilu industry during the first day of her visit to Meybod.
She said based on the information available and the visit she and other experts made, they found out that Zilu weaving is a popular industry in Meybod, and all family members are somehow involved in it, and that it is one of the main jobs of people in Meybod.
“During the course of these visits, we saw for ourselves all the stages of Zilu weaving and learned that from A to Z of the Zilu weaving process are done inside the town of Meybod, said Hijjawi-Qaddumi.
The WCC assessor said Meybod has the edge in the Zilu industry as authorities in the city are familiar with this art and they themselves are somehow professional Zilu weavers.
She then touched upon the Zilu weaving training centres in the city.
Hijjawi-Qaddumi said the Zilu weaving art in Meybod is noteworthy and it is very great that Zilu weaving is being taught with new methods in the training centres.
She said the fact that women in Meybod are involved in Zilu weaving is a winning ace for the city.
The official underlined it would be important to pay due regard to the Zilu industry and to introduce it to world markets, adding Meybod has secured this accomplishment.
Hijjawi-Qaddumi then talked about the outcome of her assessment of the Meybod Zilu.
“It is still too early to make a decision in that regard, but given the existing evidence and documents as well as the papers received, this industry deserves to be registered globally; however, we should wait for the overall results [of assessments] regarding this issue to be announced,” she noted.
She said after the experts wind up their visits to locations associated with the Zilu weaving art and industry, they will send a report to the World Crafts Council. She said after the report is shared with other members, and they express their full satisfaction, then good news may be announced.
Below you see IRNA’s photos of WCC experts’ visits to Zilu weaving workshops:
The accident took place on Monday morning, when a van heading from the Iranian border city of Mehran to Kut collided with an Iranian bus moving in the opposite direction.
According to IRNA, the accident occurred due to the sleepiness of the van driver which led to the deaths of all passengers of the van.
Several bus passengers were also injured and are being treated in Mehran.
Taking the victims of today’s incident into account, the number of Iranian pilgrims killed in road accidents this year has reached 24.
Road accidents in Iraq during Arba’een processions rise due to road traffic, shortage of vehicle and the rush of drivers.
The transport of pilgrims to Karbala and their return to the cities and the border crossings is one of the problems that, despite the experience of the past 15 years, has not yet been resolved.
The Iranian FM made the remarks upon his arrival in the Turkish city of Istanbul to attend a tripartite meeting between the Islamic Republic, Turkey, and Azerbaijan Republic.
“The psychological effects of sanctions are usually more than their direct results. Since the day that US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear deal, and even before that until today, we have seen the effects of the sanctions,” he said.
Zarif also noted that the economic mechanisms that the European Union is thinking of will be operational within a few days, however it may take some time for Tehran to benefit from these mechanisms.
Referring to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, the Iranian FM highlighted that unfortunately, wrong methods and choices are so prevalent in the region that the Zionist and Saudi regimes commit any kind of crime without being worried about the consequences.
“Tomorrow I will discuss it with the Azeri and Turkish foreign ministers and use the opportunity to discuss bilateral and regional issues with the Turkish authorities,” said Zarif.
Zarif headed to Istanbul on Monday to attend the 6th Trilateral Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan Republic.
According to a statement by Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign ministers of the three countries are scheduled to discuss the opportunities ahead for expanding cooperation and some other important issues.
