Birthday celebrations of Prophet Mohammad are holding all over Iran. The country has an area of approximately631,660 square miles, and its population is an estimated 83 million. The population is approximately 97 percent Muslim, of which an estimated 89 percent are Shi’a and 8 percent are Sunni, mostly Turkmen, Arabs, Baluchs, and Kurds living in the southwest, southeast, and northwest. Sufi Brotherhoods are popular, but there are no reliable figures available regarding the size of the Sufi population.

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Iranian inventors succeeded to receive the silver medal of the IFIA International Chemical Competition held on October 10-12, 2016 in the Main Hall of the Warsaw University of Technology.

10th edition of International Warsaw Invention Show 2016 “IWIS 2016” was held on October 10-12, 2016 in the Main Hall of the Warsaw University of Technology. As in previous years, the event was organized by the Association of Polish Inventors and Innovators in cooperation with the Polish Patent Office and the Warsaw University of Technology.

Alongside the event, IFIA International Chemical Competition organized to showcase the best technologies in this field, evaluated them according to the pre-established criteria and awarded the best ones.

Finally silver medal went into the hands of Iranian inventors from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran for developing the invention “Design and construction of a Structural Smart Portable Device for implementation of the Structural health monitoring”.

This team that includes Alireza Entezami, bahareh behkamal, hashem shariatmadar gained confirmation of this exhibition. They also won Gold medal and the Top Invented Warrant from International Research Association participants, which were in Civil Engineering sub-group.

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an implementing process focusing on condition assessment of various types of civil and mechanical structures based on statistical and mathematical techniques. The main purpose of this invention is to design and construct a Structural Smart Portable Device (SSPD). In this device, some novel algorithms and methods are proposed. In this regard, an efficient and practical way has been suggested in order to dealing with some limitations and drawbacks in using previous SHM methods. Finally, this invention identifies the location and quantification of structural damage.

IWIS is Poland’s largest international exhibition dedicated to the promotion of invention and innovation. During the 10th edition solutions from 26 countries, including Malaysia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Iran, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Yemen were presented. Polish inventors presented more than 130 solutions in various fields of science, which globally with foreign inventors gave more than 415 solutions, which are a review of technical achievements, some of which have found their place in the industry, and partly awaiting implementation.

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Once upon a time in a fictitious land, a grandma housed all domestic and wild animals to shelter them from the cruelty of a harsh night of cold; such scenario Nader Nouri, Iranian graduate from a US university and technical director of Tehran’s underground train project, believes in.

He had been a lover of animals from childhood. Nouri’s American wife, two sons and two daughters, mother, and nephew have joined him in sheltering and treating the injured animals form the wild. 6 years ago, Nouri established his house as center for animal care and environmental research. They find ill and wounded animals in nature and provides treatment and care to just compensate the cruelty the hunters or the cycle of life in nature have inflicted upon the unfortunate animals.

The Nature Village, as it is called, is a one-of-a-kind project where experts from around the country have provided advice in placing and looking for animals and birds, as well as in technical and aesthetic aspects of the buildings. The project incorporates latest cutting-edge technology and standards of world-famous parks of nature.

Animals chosen will be in harmony with the environment which simulates their habitats. Reptiles’ park will house snakes; a similar parks will be abode of crocodiles, and the park specific for birds of prey will be home for species in the verge of extinction. A website, recently launched by the Center, has contributed to declining cases of purchase of snake-killing poisons; in this park, no sign would read ‘do not feed animals;’ rather, ‘provide each animal with its specific feed; feed animals properly.’

Designed in a land track of 10 hectares (25 acres), the first phase of the park will address animals of prey, aquatic animals, reptiles, ruminants, ornamental animals, etc. The second phase will protect wild carnivores, with still a third phase will address the fauna on the verge of extinction./ Mehr News

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Swedish ministers have welcomed a proposal by Iranian President’s Chief of Staff Mohammad Nahavandian to open an account of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) in Stockholm central bank.

Nahavandian made the proposal to the Swedish Minister of Finance Magdalena Andersson and the Minister of EU Affairs and Trade Ann Linde in separating meetings in Stockholm on Saturday, Fars News Agency reported.

During the meetings, Nahavandian underlined the need to accelerate the trend of promoting Tehran-Stockholm relations through a comprehensive program.

He said the two countries should finalize the banking talks at the earliest to facilitate economic exchanges.

The Iranian government, he said, is resolved to attract optimum foreign investment.

For her part, Linde said that her country has planned for promoting economic relations with Iran.

Andersson also said in her meeting with Nahavandian that Stockholm attaches great importance to ties with Tehran.

Andersson further stressed that Sweden and Iran should resume cooperation as Tehran was once Sweden’s biggest trade partner before the sanctions’ era.

In relevant remarks in early June, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom in a meeting with her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Stockholm called for the expansion of relations between the two countries.

“There is a need for enhanced cooperation between Iran and Sweden under present conditions,” Wallstrom said.

The Swedish foreign minister reiterated that following the nuclear agreement between Iran the six world powers (the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany) in July 2015, the time is ripe for Iran and Sweden to expand all-out relations.

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Drilling operations on 40 oil wells in South Azadegan oilfield have shown 91 percent progress, said director of the South Azadegan oilfield drilling project in National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC).

Azadegan oil field in south west of Iran is located about 80 Km. west of Ahwaz
and straddles the Iran-Iraq border.

Manouchehr Assadi said his company had drilled more than 140,000 meters as part of the operations to drill 40 wells, Fars News Agency reported.

Eight heavy onshore drilling rigs of the NIDC were used for drilling the wells, said the official.

With the expulsion of the Chinese company from South Azadegan field in the year to March 2015, the drilling operation of 40 wells was ceded to the NIDC by the Petroleum Development and Engineering Company (PDEC).

The official said out of 43 wells, 30 are completed, finalized and put at the disposal of the employer.

The NIDC is now drilling in South Yaran and Azar fields, Phase 14 of South Pars as well as the onshore part of Kish gas field.

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France’s imports from Iran in the first nine months of 2016 show a staggering 34-fold rise compared to the corresponding period last year, thanks to resumption of oil imports after coming into force of the Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iran-France trade has tripled since implementation of the nuclear agreement in January, according to figures from EU’s statistical office Eurostat.

Iran has experienced a positive balance of €383 million in trade with France during the nine-month period, after resumption of crude exports to Europe’s biggest purchaser of Iranian oil, Tasnim News Agency reported.

France’s imports from Iran in January-September 2016 stood at €842 million, more than 34 times greater than the same period in 2015.

The European country’s imports from Iran averaged €34.4 million from 2014 until 2016, and reached €229 million in August 2016.

Cooperation between Iranian and French companies has increased in recent months.

In November, France’s Total signed a deal with Iran to further develop its part of the world’s largest gas field, becoming the first western energy company to sign a major deal with Tehran since the lifting of international sanctions earlier this year.

Total confirmed that it had signed a heads of agreement with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for the Phase 11 development of South Pars in the Persian Gulf, which extends into Qatari waters where it is known as the North Field.

The French company has already played a key role in Iran’s energy industry, including the development of phases 2 and 3 of South Pars in the 2000s, before pulling out of the country after international sanctions were imposed in 2010.

Also, French carmaker Peugeot-Citroen (PSA) announced in June its return to Iran under a €400m joint venture with its old partner Iran Khodro in Tehran.

The first cars produced under the PSA venture are set to be sold in February, with the aim of producing 200,000 vehicles a year by 2018.

PSA is the first Western carmaker to announce a return to Iran since many economic sanctions were lifted in January.

Another French carmaker, Renault, also reached a deal with Iran’s government in September to open a plant making at least 150,000 vehicles a year.

The French carmaker announced the deal with the Industrial Development & Renovation Organization of Iran, during the Paris auto show.

Iran has also signed a major contract with European aviation giant, Airbus, worth about $27 billion to buy 118 planes within few months. The contract was signed during the visit to France by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani./Iran Daily

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Iran has been recommended as a top travel destination for 2017 as the country takes steps to ease visa rules for foreign tourists.

Business Insider has named Iran among 50 places to travel to in 2017, commending the country’s security as a key factor behind attracting more tourists.

Iran is considered as one of the safest countries in the Middle East.

Business Insider has foreseen a tourist influx into Iran with more new direct flights operated from European capitals to Tehran.

The country’s tourism sector has already been thriving in the wake of a landmark nuclear deal with the six world powers back in July 2015.

Back in 2014, the country hosted more than 5 million tourists, earning some $7.5 billion in revenue.

Iran aspires to host 20 million tourists annually by 2025, with expectations of expanding the tourist sector to $30 billion.

Iranian authorities have already unveiled sweeping plans including easing visa restrictions as well as constructing new hotels as part of efforts to attract more foreign tourists.

Issuing visas on arrival at the airport for nationals of 190 countries as well as issuing electronic visas are among the initiatives the Iranian officials are mulling in this regard.

Thanks to its ancient architecture, eye-catching mosques, public baths and markets as well as incredible natural beauty, Iran has already been listed as one of the top travel destinations.

The country is home to 21 special sites registered on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

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Golestan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in the north-east of the country and south of the Caspian Sea. Its capital city is Gorgan. Nature of Golestan province,  is one of the most beautiful in fall.

About Golestan

Golestan province is located on the south eastern shore of Caspian Sea. In general, Golestan has a moderate and humid climate known as “the moderate Caspian climate”. The effective factors behind such a climate are: Alborz mountain range, direction of the mountains, height of the area, neighborhood to the sea, vegetation surface, local winds, altitude and weather fronts. As a result of the above factors, three different climates exist in the region: plain moderate, mountainous, and semi-arid. Gorgan valley has a semi-arid climate. The average annual temperature is 18.2 Celsius and the annual rainfall is 556 mm.

Its capital, Gorgan, is approximately 400 km from Tehran and has an airport and several universities. The Golestan National Park is some 150 km to east of this city.

Gorgan has contributed to the rich literature, poetry and science of Iran and even the world by celebrities such as Abdolqaher Gorgani, Sayed Esmail Gorgani, Mirdamad , Mirfenderski, Asad Gorgani and Esmail Hosseini Gorgâni.

Gorgan and in general Golestan province has a world famous carpet and rug industry. Made by Turkmans, is inherited from the ancient Persian city of Bukhara. Jajim carpets are the exclusives of this province.

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Civil defense drills were held in schools across Iran on Monday to boost students’ readiness to deal with possible earthquakes in Tehran.

Tehran Doomed If ‘Big One’ Hits, Quake Expert Says
By Erik Kirschbaum :(Reuters) – An earthquake that may one day strike Tehran could kill hundreds of thousands and destroy most of the buildings in the capital city of 12 million, a top Iranian scientist warned on Monday .

Bahram Akasheh, professor of geophysics at Tehran University and a government adviser, said a quake as strong as the one that flattened the southeastern city of Bam could kill many times more than the 30,000 people who are feared dead there.

“The building codes are almost universally ignored in Iran and Tehran is especially vulnerable to quakes because there is a major fault line running across it,” Akasheh told Reuters. “The ground conditions in parts of Tehran are unfavorable: too soft, too brittle and too dangerous to build on. Rules are ignored.”

Northern Tehran is sitting on a major fault about 47 miles long and about 100 smaller fractures, Akasheh said.

He and other researchers estimate that a repeat of the last big quake to hit Tehran, which killed 45,000 in 1830, would today kill six percent of the capital’s population.

“The destruction to Tehran would be immense. About 80 percent of the buildings would be damaged or destroyed. Tehran is not ready for a big one.”

In 1830, most of the damage was to buildings up to 100 km to the east of Tehran, which then had a population of just 10,000.

“All the villages were destroyed,” Akasheh said. “And you must keep in mind there were only one-story buildings then. There was no big city. But everything was still destroyed.”

The 1830 shock is thought to have measured seven on the Richter scale. The quake in Bam was 6.3.

The moderate Sharq newspaper said on Sunday a million or more could die in a Tehran quake. It reported only five of the 32 fire stations are built to withstand a powerful earthquake.

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National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) will sign into three accords with France’s Total and Royal Dutch Shell over development of three oil and gas fields of Iran.

Following the signing of an Agreement in Principle (AiP) with France’s Total S.A. company on development of South Pars Phase 11, the French firm will seal two more agreements today with NIOC.

One contract to be inked between the two sides today on Wednesday December 07 pertains conducting studies and development of Azadegan joint oilfields.

The accord follows an earlier meeting in December between Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and Chairman and CEO of Total Patrick Pouyanné held on the the sidelines of OPEC summit in Algeria where the two sides mulled over venues to develop South Azadegan oil field.

NIOC and France’s Total had also sealed a confidential disclosure agreement in March in order to develop Iran’s South Azadegan joint oilfield with Iraq and the French side was required to present its technical bid in six months’ time.

Earlier, the Project Director of the Development Project of South Azadegan Seyyed Mahmoud Mar’ashi estimated that the required volume of investment for the project will be less than five billion dollars in order to reach a daily production of 300 to 320 thousand barrels of crude oil.

In the current time, about 50 thousand barrels of crude oil is being extracted from the joint oil field while completion of the first developmental phase will raise the output to 100 thousand barrels per day by the end of the current year.

In addition to the deal on Azadegan, another agreement is slated to be signed with Total over expansion of Kish gas field as one of the NIOC Recent Discoveries which was discovered in 2006.

A total of 12 wells have so far been drilled in Kish gas field, which is a giant independent field close to Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, and three developmental phases have been defined to realize five billion cubic feet of gas.

The third contract, however, will be endorsed today between NIOC and Royal Dutch Shell on development of Yadavaran joint oilfield. It remains noteworthy that the first phase of development in the Iranian field has been carried out by Sinopec of China.

With completion of Phase 1 of North Azadegan oilfield, in collaboration with China National Petroleum Corporation International (CNPCI), the production at Yadavaran joint field has also surged to 115 thousand barrels per day as a result of cooperation with Sinopec.

Oil production at the joint oilfield with Iran has currently reached 115 thousand barrels which exceeds the initial commitment made for the first developmental phase by approximately 30 thousand barrels.

Yadavaran oilfield has a reservoir of 17 billion barrels and a potential to produce 300-400 thousand bpd of crude.

Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh had previously said the MDP of phase II of North Azadegan and Yadavaran oilfields has been approved by Chinese contractor SINOPEC and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) under an initial contract, adding “Iran is ready to hold multilateral negotiations with Chinese companies within its accepted framework.”

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