Here are Tasnim’s photos of the early days of spring in Ardabil province in northwest of Iran:
Canadian Women Employees No Longer Forced to Wear High Heels
The British Columbia government ruled that requiring women employees to wear high heels at work is a health and safety issue, putting workers at risk of slipping or falling as well as long-term injuries to the feet, legs and back.
Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver filed a private member’s bill on International Women’s Day in March which would have ended gender-specific dress codes.
The Government eventually adopted an amended version of Mr Weaver’s proposal.
British Columbia’s Workers’ Compensation Act will “ensure that workplace footwear is of a design, construction and material that allows the worker to safely perform their work and ensures that employers cannot require footwear contrary to this standard”.
“This change will let employers know that the most critical part of an employee’s footwear is that it is safe,” Labour Minister Shirley Bond said in a statement, The Independent reported.
“I expect employers to recognise this very clear signal that forcing someone to wear high heels at work is unacceptable.”
Mr Weaver also welcomed the new laws, saying women wearing heels at work faced “sexism, objectification, bleeding feet, sore knees, hips, backs and long-term damage.”
In the UK, MPs recently debated discriminatory dress codes, after a petition calling for a ban on women wearing high heels at work gathered more than 150,000 signatures.
Nicola Sharp, a receptionist, started the petition after she was sent home from work for refusing to wear high heels.
US Attack on Syria Sows Terrorism, as in Sweden: Iran
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi made the remark on Saturday, a day after a truck plowed into a crowd in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, killing four people and injuring 15 others.
“We witnessed the criminal act by one of the disciples of ‘the ideology of ossification, madness, and massacre’ amid the ecstasy of certain Western and Arab countries over the US’s open aggression against Syria,” Qassemi said.
The US on Friday launched missiles at a Syrian airbase under the pretext that the facility had been used to launch a “chemical attack” against anti-Damascus militants.
Qassemi condemned the attack and sympathized with the Swedish government and people as well as the survivors of “the terrorist crime.”
The Iranian official denounced the deadly incident as “a flagrant attempt at resuscitating terrorism’s moribund body in the [Middle East] region.”
The terrorist attack in Stockholm, he said, showed that terrorism — which some countries openly or secretly support — knows no boundaries.
Qassemi concluded his remarks by urging international consensus, accompanied by “serious determination and an honest approach” toward the eradication of terrorism.
Terrorists Celebrating US Strike on Syria: Iran’s President
On US President Donald Trump’s order, the US military launched 59 missiles in the early hours of Friday targeting an airbase in the Syrian province of Homs. The attack came in response to an alleged chemical attack on Idlib, which the US blames on the Syrian government.
According to a Farsi report by IRNA, Iranian President Rouhani condemned the attack on Saturday, saying the US thinks of itself as the world’s police and leader and decides to take actions unilaterally.
“They attacked a Syrian airbase with their missiles overnight and martyred a number of innocent people. What was the occasion and reason for invading an independent state? The gentleman currently ruling the country used to claim that he intended to fight terrorists. Nevertheless, [currently] all the terrorists in Syria are happy and celebrating thanks to the move by the US.”
“If the US government was telling the truth [about its anti-terrorism plans and intentions], why did it support terrorists and become their sponsor in its first move?” he asked, speaking in a conference in the Iranian Ministry of Interior.
Addressing the US government, President Rouhani asked, “Why did you take action against the Syrian army which is fighting against terrorists? Why have you taken unilateral action against Syria and launched your missiles from the Mediterranean Sea? What permit did you have for such a move? Which law had authorized you to carry out the attack? You did not even obtain any permit from the UN and your own Congress, which both have many flaws, and invasively, flagrantly and cruelly invaded Syria irrespective of and against all the international principles.”
The Iranian president further called for the establishment of a fact finding committee to probe into the alleged use of chemicals in the Tuesday attack on Khan Shaykhun, which was used by the US as a pretext to attack the Syrian airbase on Friday.
Rouhani said, “Of course, biased people should not be appointed to the committee. In addition, the US should not preside over such a board. The commission is required to be chaired and served on by impartial countries and people to be able to examine the issue and determine the veracity of the claims about the use of chemical weapons by Syria: Where have these weapons come from? Who has supplied them? Have there been any chemical weapons at all?”
He noted that two years ago, the officials of the United Nations (UN) announced that they had collected all the chemical weapons from Syria.
Therefore, he added, it is required to be determined where the claims about the use of such weapons have come from.
He further urged the Iranian nation to be united and cognizant more than ever, as no one knows what the people who have come into power in the US are plotting to do to the region and the world.
“We are required to be consciously devising clever plans to be prepared for different possibilities.”
Attack on Syrian Airbase Proves Washington’s Support for Terrorists
While the political and military trends have been towards destruction of terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq, the recent US missile attack on a Syrian government’s airbase near Homs reveals a “quite purposeful” act for boosting the moral and military capabilities of terrorists, Shamkhani said on Friday evening.
His comments came after the US launched a missile attack on the Syrian government’s Shayrat Airfield near Homs with 59 tomahawk missiles on Friday. Officially announcing the strike, US President Donald Trump claimed that the targeted airfield had launched a chemical attack on the rebel-held area in Idlib.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian general reminded the US government of the “bitter experiences” in Iraq and Afghanistan in the wake of military aggression “under bogus and suspicious pretexts.”
“We hope that the new US administration would not seek the past bitter experiences for the American military forces and people in Syria,” he added.
Condemning the US missile strike as a “criminal aggression” that violates the international regulations, Shamkhani said the move was a testimony to “US continued policy of employment of terrorism to achieve political purposes.”
“Undoubtedly, such measure that will complicate the political and security situation in Syria and create dangerous and unforeseeable processes, will not undermine the Syrian government and nation’s determination to decisively fight against terrorism backed by the Western-Hebrew-Arabic front,” Shamkhani noted.
The senior official finally underlined that Iran continues to monitor the situation in Syria closely, in cooperation with its partners, and regardless of the moves by certain Western states and their regional allies, and will press on with the battle against terrorism vigorously.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 8
Almost all newspapers today highlighted the US missile attacks on a Syrian airbase near Homs, and the reactions it sparked throughout the world.
Another top story was the first edition of Tehran International Marathon, which was held on Friday and provoked controversy mostly because of its women’s section.
The candidacy of Ebrahim Raeesi in Iran’s May presidential election and the conservatives’ decision to support him also received great coverage.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:
Abrar:
1- US Fires Missiles at Syria’s Shayrat Airfield after Khan Sheikhoun Chemical Attacks
2- We Don’t Want Confrontation with Iran, Russia: French FM
Abrar-e Eqtesadi:
1- Iran’s Exports to US More than Its Imports
2- US Permits Iran, BP to Work in Rhum Gas Field
3- Oil Price Up by 2% Following US Attack on Syria
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Putin’s Dangerous Move
- Russia Recognises Western Jerusalem as Israeli Capital before Europe, US
2- Iran, Bolivia, Russia Condemn US Missile Attack on Syria
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Trump Finally Drags US Boots on Syria’s Ground
Besharat-e Now:
1- 40 Days to Iran Election: Raeesi’s Bid for Presidency, Rouhani’s Silence
Ebtekar:
1- Rouhani: Security, Nationwide Peace, His Most Important Achievements
2- Trump’s First Shot
Emtiaz:
1- National Report on Plasco Incident Delivered to President Rouhani
Etemad:
1- Rouhani: For First Time since 1950s, Iran’s Non-Oil Exports Surpass Imports
2- Rich People’s Cost of Living 17 Times More than That of the Poor
3- Spread of Depression Is Worrying: Health Minister
Ettela’at:
1- Rouhani Opens 19 Projects in Semnan Province
2- Russia Warns US of Possibility of Aerial Confrontation
Iran:
1- Trump Starts First War 82 Days after Taking Office
2- Western Allies, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Support US Aggression; Iran, Russia Condemn It
Jame Jam:
1- US Trying to Give Terrorists Artificial Respiration by Invading Syria
Javan:
1- Europe Terrified by ISIS Communism! 5 Swedish Citizens Killed in Truck Attack
2- Iran’s Soil Being Smuggled for Persian Gulf Arabs’ Revelry
3- US Fighting on Same Side as Al-Qaeda, ISIS: Zarif
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Putin: US Missile Attack on Syria to Severely Harm Moscow-Washington Ties
2- Trump: Civilised Nations Should Join Us in Syria War
Kayhan:
1- US Officially Stands by ISIS by Attacking Syrian Airbase in Homs; Takfiris Applaud Trump
Mardom Salari:
1- Trump’s Thirst for World War
Rooyesh-e Mellat:
1- US Lying about Syria: Senior Iranian Cleric
Shahrvand:
1- Trump’s Adventurism: EU Was Informed of US Attack on Syria
2- Chaotic Marathon: Persia Int’l Race Held in Tehran with Lots of Controversies
Shargh:
1- Raeesi’s Shock to Iran Election: Conservatives Choose Him as Rouhani’s Main Rival
2- Truck of Death in Stockholm
3- Iran Election Is Internationally Decisive: First VP
Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:
1- Deputy FM: Iran-US Military Confrontation Is Unlikely
2- Attack on Shayrat Airfield and Trump’s Chaotic Cabinet [Editorial]
Trump Can’t Speak of Syrian Babies While Closing US Doors to Them
Speaking at a political event in Texas on Friday, Clinton said, “It is essential that the world does more to deter Assad from committing future murderous atrocities,” Clinton said. “But the action taken last night needs to be followed by a broader strategy to end Syria’s civil war.”
Referring to Trump’s administration, she added, “I also hope that they will recognize that we cannot in one breath speak of protecting Syrian babies and in the next close American doors to them.”
According to CNN, Clinton’s remarks came as she reemerges on the political scene months after losing the 2016 presidential election to Trump, who authorized airstrikes in Syria on Thursday after blaming Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a chemical attack in a rebel-controlled town in the war-torn country.
Saudi King Appreciates Trump’s Order to Attack Syria
United States President Donald Trump has spoken to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud by phone on Saturday regarding the Washington’s latest direct military action in Syria.
During the telephone conversation, Trump briefed the Saudi King on the launch of 59 precision guided missiles that hit Shayrat Airfield in Syria, where Washington claims Tuesday’s alleged chemical attack was launched.
On his part, Saudi King Salman congratulated the US President on “this courageous decision which serves the regional and world interest,” a statement released by SPA read.
In one of the first international reactions to the developments in Syria, Saudi Arabia on Friday said it “fully supports” US strikes on military targets in the country, adding that it was a “courageous decision” by President Donald Trump in response to the use of chemical weapons against civilians.
“A responsible source at the foreign ministry expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s full support for the American military operations on military targets in Syria, which came as a response to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians…,” a statement carried by state news agency SPA said.
The statement praised what it described as “the courageous decision” by Trump and said it holds the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad responsible for the military strikes.
The Saudi king’s remarks came as his country has been launching deadly airstrikes against the impoverished people of Yemen for the past two years. According to the UN, the Saudi military campaign has claimed the lives of more than 11,000 Yemenis and left 40,000 others wounded.
Local Yemeni sources have already put the death toll from the Saudi war at over 12,000, including many women and children.
Iran President Calls on World to Condemn US Attack on Syria
“The tragedy of Khan Sheikhoun [the alleged chemical attack on Idlib province] is horrifying and must be condemned. It reminds Iranians, victim of CW for years, the attacks in Sardasht,” President Rouhani said in a post in his Twitter account.
“The US aggression against Shayrat strengthens regional extremism and terror, and global lawlessness and instability, and must be condemned,” he went on to say.
“I call on the world to reject such policies, which bring only destruction and danger to the region and the globe,” the president said.
The US launched 59 missiles on a Syrian airbase near Homs earlier on Friday.
On President Donald Trump’s order, the US launched the strike on the Syrian airfield in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack in the town of Khan Sheikhun in Idlib province earlier this week. Damascus has categorically denied carrying out a chemical attack.
Tehran Hosts First Int’l Marathon (+Photos)
In the 40-kilometre run, Mohammad Jafar Moradi from Iran finished in first place and won $3,000 cash prize.
Mohammad Faraji and Ehsan Zeinivand came second and third and won $2,500 and $1,500 cash prizes respectively.
In the 21-kilometre race, Ali Akbar Barzi finished in first place, followed by Saber Charkhi and Hassan Shirghavi.
And in 10-kilometre race, Hossein Keyhani won the title ahead of Morteza Beiranvand and Rahim Dibaei.
Parisa Arab won the women’s 10 kilometers race with a time of 38 minutes and 19 seconds.
Majid Keyhani, the head of Iran’s track and field federation, said that although no professional runners were taking part this year he hoped they would enter the ‘Persian Run’ in future, Tasnim reported.
Several dozen foreigners took part in the marathon, from around 40 different countries.
Here are photos of the races taken from various news agencies:
