The 8th Iran Air Show aiming at presenting aviation and aerospace industries capabilities and introducing the latest aviation achievements and technologies started work on Nov 16 in the Persian Gulf Kish Island.

The opening ceremony of the event was held in the presence of Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, Head of Civil Aviation Organization of Iran Ali Abedzadeh, Kish Free Zone Organization Managing Director Ali Asghar Moonesan, deputies of the Ministry of Road and Urban Development, ambassadors of Senegal and Russia, and heads of aviation firms and some other officials.

Over 100 domestic firms from aviation and aerospace organizations, institutions, research centers, universities and higher education centers and production companies and foreign firms from Germany, Russia, Italy, England, Japan, Poland, Latvia, Singapore, Malaysia, Turkey, France and Ukraine participated in the event.

The event is being held in two sections of exhibition and air show.

In exhibition section, potentials of aviation industry, knowledge-based firms, and air plane parts designers is shown while in air show section, fans will see aircraft flying in the sky.

The sub-events consist of unveiling some innovative and knowledge-based plans, holding a meeting on Iran-Russia cooperation, holding Aerospace National Day and workshop.

The event is supported by Kish Free Zone Organization, Ministry of Defense, Iran Aviation Industries Organization, Iran Civil Aviation Organization, Iranian Airports Holding Company (IAC), The Airline of Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran Air) and Presidential Deputy for Science and Technology.

The 8th International Iran Air Show will be underway until Nov 19 in Kish International Exhibitions Center.

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National Iranian sabre team made history by winning the title of Men Sabre World Cup held in Senegal.

In the finals of the prominent fencing tournament, which was held in Dakar, Iranian sabre practitioners overcame Italy 45-39 to stand on top of the podium for the first time.

Iran’s sabre outfit, comprising Mojtaba Abedini, Ali Pakdaman, Farzad Baher Arasbaran and Mohammad Rahbarai, had taken part at the international sportive event under the supervision of Peyman Fakhri as the head coach.

The gold medal came as the first ever trophy achieved by Iran’s national sabre squad in Men Sabre World Cup.

Iranian fencers had pulled a 45-34 victory over South Korean rivals in the semifinal showdown. The Persians, meanwhile, had to thrash Japan’s sabre team (45-22) in their opening match before breezing past the US (45-44) in the following encounter en route to the semifinals.

Men Sabre World Cup kicked off on November 04 in the Senegalese capital of Dakar and ran through November 06, 2016.

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The Italian power engineering company, Ansaldo Energia, has offered utilizing its technology to reduce environmental impacts of energy projects in Iran, SHANA news agency reported on Wednesday.

In a meeting between Iran Power and Water Equipment and Service Export Company (Sunir) CEO Mohammad Kafshkanan and Ansaldo Energia CEO Giuseppe Zampini, the two sides discussed the possibility of adopting new technologies resulting in minimizing environmentally detrimental pollutants, especially during gas flaring.

During the extraction phase of petroleum and oil, a great amount of gas will be lost through flaring. As a major aspect of environmental pollution, gas flaring has become a common phenomenon and it can have serious biological and economic impacts.

“The two sides have undertaken initiatives to sign a memorandum of understanding and in case Majlis (Iranian parliament) and Oil Ministry grant their approval for the agreement we would make a great improvement in this field,” Kafshkanan explained.

Zampini, for his part, noted that compared to other European countries Italy has always been a pioneer in expanding ties with Iran.

Iranian MP Hossein Amiri-Khamkani, who was also present in the meeting, highlighted that Italy has always been on Iran’s side as much as possible at the time of the sanctions therefore developing stronger relations with such countries are of Iran’s main political priorities.

He further added that promoting technical and economic cooperation and transferring technologies are of great significance to Iran.

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Head of container affairs of Shahid Rajaei Port in Hormuzgan Province announced on Saturday that 17 international container shipping companies have resumed their activities in the port adding that Maersk Line of Denmark and MOL of Japan as well as CMA of France and Messina of Italy will begin operations in the port soon.

Turaj Amiri further said that given the expected 28 percent rise in operations in the year to mid-March 2017, the port will handle over 2.1 million containers during the period, IRNA reported.

Pointing to the loading and unloading of three million containers per a year during the years before the Western sanctions, the official said the figure dropped to 1.6 million last year.

He put the annual operation capacity for the first phase of Shahid Rajaei’s First Terminal at 1.5 million containers adding that once the second phase of the terminal’s development project becomes operational, the figure will rise to 3.5 million containers.

Pointing to the capacity of the Second Terminal of Shahid Rajaei Port, he said that with the completion of the third phase of development plan, the annual operations capacity for the port will grow to 8 million containers.

“Step by step the problems have been resolved (since then), removing many restrictions and limitations,” Mohammad Saeidi, the chairman of Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) told Reuters in an interview at the Danish Maritime Forum conference in Copenhagen on Thursday.

A slowdown in global trade together with a glut of vessels has left the container shipping industry struggling with its worst ever market conditions, but Saeidi said the post-sanctions environment meant IRISL would be looking to expand its 156-ship fleet.

“We are negotiating with some shipyards and some makers and hopefully it would reach clear conclusions in the next 3-4 months,” he said.

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Figures released by the Customs Administration of Iran show that the country’s exports from Germany have increased by 25 percent.

Iran’s official figures show that the country’s imports from Germany have increased by a quarter in what could be a fresh indication of growing opening in Iran’s post-sanctions business environment.

Iran imported $1.27 billion worth of goods from Germany over a period of seven months

Figures released by the Customs Administration of Iran showed that the country imported $1.27 billion worth of goods from Germany over a period of seven months starting 21 March 2016 – the start of the current Iranian calendar year of 1395.

This shows an increase of around 25 percent compared to the same period last year. It also shows that Germany is now the fifth main exporter to Iran and the leading European country with a significant level of trade activities with the Islamic Republic.

The top four exporters to Iran – as figures relating to the same seven-month period showed – are China ($5.71 billion), the UAE ($4.98 billion), South Korea ($1.88 billion) and Turkey ($1.55 billion), figures released by the Customs Administration of Iran showed.

The top importers of Iranian non-oil commodities and services over the same period have been China ($4.43 billion), the UAE ($3.88 billion), Iraq ($3.50 billion), Turkey ($2.50 billion) and South Korea ($1.95 billion).

A majority of Iran’s exported items are downstream products such as condensate, liquefied petroleum gas, gas oil, propane and others.

Key items imported during the period have been cattle feedstock, soy, rice, auto spare parts and vehicles.

Figures released by Iran’s Customs Administration last month showed that the country’s non-oil exports to Europe for a period of five months starting 21 March 2016 had increased by 21 percent. Top importers were accordingly identified as Italy, Spain and Germany.

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Iran has signed initial agreements with Germany’s Hermes insurance firm and Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV) to provide cover for transactions with Europe.

The Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) signed the agreements in Lisbon on the sidelines of the annual meeting of Bern Union — an association of private and state export credit insurers from around the world, IRNA reported Wednesday.

Under the agreement, the Iranian and European sides will cooperate on “exchange of economic, trade and banking information, reinsurance coverage, coinsurance, and training”.

IRNA quoted EGFI Managing Director Kamal Seyyed-Ali as saying that European export credit insurers were increasingly interested in financing projects after the lifting of sanctions on Iran.

“Given our good track record in repayment of finance installments and Iran’s foreign exchange reserves and the nonexistence of outstanding debts, these institutions are interested in the Iranian financing market despite the problems created by the US Treasury,” he said.

Banks and financial institutions are holding back on moving into Iran because they are fearful of falling foul of American sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran paid off its debt of about €500 million to Hermes

Iran paid off its debt of about €500 million to Hermes, Iranian Ambassador in Berlin Ali Majedi said in June, clearing the way for the resumption of insurance services.

Hermes, which extends insurance coverage to Iranian exports, has been encouraging German banks to normalize ties with Iran.

Last month, the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI) said Austrian export credit agency OeKB had raised its cover for Iran transactions to one billion euros.

Raiffeisen Bank and Erste Bank from Austria along with banks from Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey and Belgium have set up shop in Iran, handling transactions with the energy-rich country while major banks have stayed away.

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Iranian and foreign investors are to invest  333 million US $ in Hanzai Region of the southern province of Kerman, according to the director general of provincial Cultural Heritage Department.

Mahmoud Vafaei further said that the investors intend to launch Ski piste and rest-cum-recreation compounds over an area of 1,100 hectares.

“An Iranian investor and Omani investors have started the projects or are in negotiations. A number of Italian investors have offered to construct hotel in Kerman but talks are underway with Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.”

Kerman is Iran’s largest province, he said. It boasts seven globally registered heritages and five dossiers awaiting global registration, he added.

It has significant sites such as Lut Desert, Meymand Village, Bam Citadel, Shazdeh Garden and an ancient aqueduct, he pointed out.

Also, 80 percent of the registered section of Lut Desert lies in Kerman Province, he added.

“Currently, we have registered 700 heritage sites in Kerman Province on the National Heritage List, while 7,000 others have been identified.”

An Iranian investor and Omani investors have started the projects or are in negotiations. A number of Italian investors have offered to construct hotel in Kerman.

Excavations, he noted, are to be conducted over an area of 400sq.kms. in Halilroud and Jiroft region. Konar Sandal ― a Bronze Age archeological site situated just south of Jiroft ― is very famous in light of excavations conducted earlier.

“We predict that the number of domestic tourists visiting Kerman reach 40,000.

“We intend to celebrate the inaugural of the 100th local guesthouse in the near future. This means that Kerman target tourism villages could accommodate foreign tourists and sell handicrafts. This will boost rural jobs and empower villagers.”

Vakil Caravanserai in Kerman can be turned over to the private sector, he said, adding there are several caravanserais which have been transformed into rest-cum-recreation centers.

There is a caravanserai in Anar Region which has been converted into an entertaining complex, he added.

Kerman is a secure tourism region, he said, adding foreign tourists can directly travel to Lut Desert.

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Iranian female Paralympics shooter Sareh Javanmardi who won gold medal in 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, has been selected by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the best female athlete in September.
According to IPC, Sareh Javanmardi who won gold medal in 10-meter air pistol is the 1st woman to win gold medal in Iran’s history in this field.

Javanmardi snatched bronze medal in London Paralympics and then bagged her second gold medal in 2016 Rio Paralympics Games.

She competed with 5 other athletes from Nigeria, US, New Zealand, Italy and China to get the best athlete title.

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Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI) announced that Austrian export credit agency OeKB has raised its cover for Iran transactions to one billion euros.

The announcement by Austrian Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling came during a meeting with CBI Governor Valiollah Seif in Vienna, Mehr News Agency reported.

“In the meeting, it was announced that OeKB’s insurance cover for exports to Iran has increased to 1 billion euros from 280 million euros,” reported the news agency quoting a CBI statement.

Schelling also said his country is interested in “completing banking relationship” with Iran and taking measures to remove obstacles, besides forging brokerage ties with Iranian banks, it added.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) welcomes Austrian President Heinz Fischer during a visit to Tehran in September 2015.

Banking ties

The governors of the two nations’ central banks, Ewald Nowotny and Seif, met on Tuesday, according to sources, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private, Bloomberg reported.

Top three Austrian banks: Erste Group Bank AG, UniCredit Bank Austria AG and Raiffeisen Bank International AG are among the participants, the sources said.

Raiffeisen has been looking into the option of reopening its office in the country, Chief Executive Officer Karl Sevelda said in January.

Austrian and Iranian bankers met in Vienna on Wednesday to discuss the resumption of trade financing, people familiar with the discussion said.

Austrian companies became the first Western firms to put down concrete stakes in the Islamic Republic when Tehran reached a nuclear accord, signing a number of agreements with Iranian partners in September 2015.

Raiffeisen Bank and Erste Bank from Austria along with banks from Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey and Belgium have set up shop in Iran, handling transactions with the energy-rich country while major banks have stayed away, Press TV said./ IRAN-Daily

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The traveler  Mag introduce the 50 Most Beautiful Cities in the World and Isfahan is one of it.

Isfahan by Traveler

We seek beauty in many forms: through art and architecture; from water views and mountain highs; in its people and its history. This list circles the globe, finding the most beautiful cities in the world from Italy to Iran. Vote for your favorite cities in the 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards survey.

Once one of the largest cities in the world, Isfahan had such serious cosmopolitan clout in the 16th century that it inspired the phrase Isfahan nesf-e jahan, or “Isfahan is half the world.” Today, it’s is one of the country’s largest metropolises, and has wide, tree-lined boulevards, significant Islamic architecture, and hidden Persian gardens, all perfect for exploring.

Isfahan Photo

Video: Isfahan historic bridge

Video: Isfahan

Video: Isfahan churches

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