Mediaboss Marketing

Russia wants closer ties with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated this week, according to Russian state media and Iranian media.

"We have very good relations with Iran. And we will enhance them in every possible way... That is why we do our utmost in order to develop relations with Iran, and will keep this up in the future," Putin said.

The Russian leader referenced the historic ties and proximity of Persia and Russia. This appears to be a reference to the two historic empires that played a key role in history for hundreds of years.

Putin also discussed establishing educational institutions in Iran, as part of a broader goal to forge closer ties. Iran and Russia have worked together for more than two decades, but the countries have not always progressed directly to more multi-layered ties.

For instance, Irans Islamic regime in the 1980s was not close to the Soviet Union. In the 1990s Iran sought Russian support for various defense and technological programs. Now Iran supplies Russia with drones. Russia also played a key role in the Iran deal of 2015.

The Russian leader also discussed soft power as a way for Iran-Russia ties to improve. Soft power in the kindest and best sense of this word, the promotion of our culture and our education systems. We will mull this over as well," the Russian president said, according to Russias TASS media.

The comments come as part of a larger package of comments from Putin about the need to have a multi-polar world that is more democratic. This is ironic because he was speaking about the need for authoritarian regimes like Russia to challenge the US-led democratic world order. From Moscows point of view, the world is run by a US-led dictatorship, which essentially is a critique of the G7 and other powerful economic and political or cultural blocs.

"The world is gradually getting rid of the dictatorship of a financial and economic model aimed at driving into debt and servitude, turning into economic colonies and depriving entire regions of the world of resources for development," Putin said. "Therefore, building a multipolar world order that is more democratic, honest, and fair for the majority of humanity is simply inevitable, historically necessary," he said.

Countries like Iran, Russia, and China all want to shift away from the West and from the US dollar. They want to avoid any kind of sanctions or attempts by the West to challenge organizations like BRICS.

Fars News in Iran also highlighted Putins comments. Speaking to the winners and finalists of the Russian Teacher of the Year competition in Sochi, Putin explained, according to Fars, "We have very good relations with Iran and we will develop these relations in every possible way." The reports in Iranian media basically re-reported what Russian state media had already said.

However, Iranian websites sought to highlight these comments as a way of showing approval.

Link:
Putin wants closer ties with Iran - analysis - The Jerusalem Post

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Oct. 3, 2023) The U.S. Mens Deaf National Team used goals from Chad Johnson and Chris Bourdon to twice come back from deficits and earn a 2-2 draw with IR Iran, before ultimately falling 5-4 on penalty kicks in the first of two Classification Matches at the 2023 DIFA Mens World Deaf Football Championship on Tuesday at UPNM Stadium. With the result, the USDMNT will close out the tournament when they face France in the Seventh-Place Match on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 4:30 a.m. ET.

After Shahin Fasihi gave Iran a 1-0 lead in the second minute, the U.S. pushed for an equalizer and pulled things level in the 20th minute. A driven free kick from Will Frentz on the right side of midfield found Chad Johnson who sent a looping header from 15 yards past Iran goalkeeper Mostafa Moradi for his team-leading fourth goal of the tournament. It was also the 15th goal of his international career the most ever scored by a USDMNT player.

Iran regained the lead three minutes after halftime when Pouria Saeidi sent a blistering shot from 23 yards out that skipped past outstretched U.S. goalkeeper Erik Jaspers in the 48th minute.

The U.S. equalized again just after the hour mark. Johnson broke down the left wing and powered past two Iran players before slicing towards the goal from the top corner of the penalty area. Despite an open lane to shoot, he instead slotted the ball to the far post where Chris Bourdon slipped it past Moradi in the 64th minute.

Both teams looked for the game-winner late, and Iran came closest when Mohammad Soleimani hit the post in the 89th minute. The U.S. survived that danger and without a regulation winner, the match proceeded straight to penalty kicks.

In the shootout, both teams converted their spot kicks through the first four rounds, with Chad Johnson, Michael Schmid, Dawson Anderson and goalkeeper Erik Jaspers finding the back of the net for the USA. In the fifth round, Chris Bourdon saw his attempt saved by Moradi, before Iran captain Iman Mohebi put home the game-winning penalty to help his side advance to Thursdays Fifth-Place Match.

Next Up: With the defeat, the USDMNT will face France, who fell 5-2 to Germany on Tuesday, in the Seventh-Place Match on Thursday, Oct. 5. Kickoff of USA-France is set for 4:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m. local) from UPNM Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

Match: U.S. Mens Deaf National Team vs. IR Iran Date: October 3, 2023 Competition: 2023 DIFA Mens World Deaf Football Championships Classification (5-8) Venue: UPNM Stadium; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Kickoff: 4:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m. local) Weather: 89 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F PK

USA 1 1 2 4 IRN 1 1 2 5

IRN Shahin Fasihi 2nd minute USA - Chad Johnson (Will Frentz) 19 IRN - Pouria Saeidi 48 USA - Chris Bourdon (Chad Johnson) 64

Penalty Kick Summary:

USA Chad Johnson (goal), Michael Schmid (goal), Dawson Anderson (goal), Erik Jaspers (goal), Chris Bourdon (saved)

IRN - Abdolmahdi Hamouri (goal), Shahin Fasihi (goal), Esmaeil Arablou (goal), Mohsen Farzikakavand (goal), Iman Mohebi (goal)

Lineups:

USA: 12-Erik Jaspers; 2-David Dircio, 17-Tate Lancaster (16-Kevin Fitzpatrick, 38), 5-Will Frentz (capt.), 19-Arthur Goncalves (3-Eddie Perry, 82); 6-Trip Neil (14-Dawson Anderson, 65), 8-Braden Anderson, 10-Raul Silva (11-JP Kanashiro, 46); 13-Chad Johnson, 22-Michael Schmid, 7-Chris Bourdon

Subs not used: 1-Eric Setzer, 21-Samuel Lang, 9-Thomas Salvi, 15-Jullian Mitchell, 18-Luke Haubruge, 20-Kelly Grant

Not dressed: 4-Tristan Torbett

Head Coach: David Kunitz

IRN: 1-Mostafa Moradi, 4-Abdolmahdi Hamouri, 5-Ali Salimisiakolaei (7-Mohsen Farzikakavand, 44), 6-Amirhossein Esmailiesfandouni, 9-Hossein Mesbahi (17-Mohammad Soleimani, 65), 10-Iman Mohebi (capt.) (12-Seyedamin Dehghantezerjani, 65) 14-Esmaeil Arablou, 15-Mohammadreza Golpaygani (11-Shahin Fasihi, 44), 16-Pouria Saeidi, 19-Amir Hassanzadeh, 20-Reza Jodeiri

Subs not used: 22-Mohammad Ghaedi, 2-Javad Gholamibaramkouhi, 3-Hohammad Dashtbozorg, 8-Milad Mohammadi, 21-Sina Saberikian

Head Coach: Alireza Basih

Stats Summary: USA / IRN

Shots: 11 / 15 Shots on Goal: 10 / 5 Saves: 3 / 8 Corner Kicks: 2 / 7 Fouls: 5 / 7

Misconduct Summary:

USA Raul Silva (caution) 42 IRN - Iman Mohebi (caution) 59

Officials:

Referee: Mohamad Faizudin Ismail Assistant Referee 1: Bazrul Hissam Zainul Assistant Referee 2: Ghafar Mohamad Zabri Fourth Official: Mohd Afzal Hilmi

Deaf soccer is contested by deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes. Under international criteria, players must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their better ear. Hearing loss below this level has been shown to negatively impact hearing. All players competing in deaf matches must remove all hearing aids before playing.

For more information on the sport or to inquire about athlete eligibility, please contact U.S. Soccer's Extended National Teams Department via email atextendednt@ussoccer.org.

See the original post:
Deaf MNT Falls to IR Iran on Penalties Following 2-2 Draw in World ... - U.S. Soccer

Iran has unveiled plans to triple the number of international students in the country to 320,000 by 2026 an idea that academics say has more in common with hot air than reality.

The countrys Ministry of Science released the proposal to attract more overseas students, seeking significant growth on the current total of around 100,000, according to the Tehran Times.

Afshin Shahi, an associate professor in Middle East politics and international relations at Keele University, said he believed the numbers should be taken with a big pinch of salt.

When it comes to Iranian politics, there is often a significant discrepancy between official figures and the reality on the ground, he said.

Although Iran has the potential to create an attractive learning environment, itscurrent politics, security and economy made such a proposition impossible, he said.

In the decades since the Iranian revolution in 1979, its higher education sector had been heavily securitised, with the founder of the Islamic Republic famously calling universities more dangerous than cluster bombs, Dr Shahi said.

More recently, Tehran greenlit the acceptance of Iraqs ShiiteHashd al-Shaabi militiasand similar groups in Iranian universities, something that might nominally increase its number of international students, though itdidno favours for Iranian universities reputation, he said.

On the ground, conditions are difficult, with soaring inflation and scarce resources for the infrastructure investment needed for universities.

Poor conditions have already led many people to leave. In 2019, nearly 180,000 educated professionals emigrated, and roughly half of university students, alumni and professors polled expressed a desire to leave, according to theGulf International Forum, a US-based thinktank.

These statistics hardly paint a picture of a thriving educational environmentthat would be attractive to international students, said Dr Shahi.

Morteza Dehghani, an associate professor at the University of Southern California who completed his undergraduate degree in Iran, dismissed the current plan as a staged performance.

This aspiration appears to be a mere facade, given the [Islamic Regimes] inability to boost tourism, let alone achieve such an ambitious academic goal, he said. I find it improbable that this would ever succeed.

It has been just over a year since the death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, in custody. Her death sparkednationwide protests, including student walkouts across the country, Dr Dehghani noted.

Recent moves by Tehran to expunge any professors who expressed solidarity with protesters and install regime loyalists in teaching positionsdid not exactly endear Iran to prospective overseas students, and nordid the governments track record of persecuting its own students, he said.

In the past year, thousands of students found themselves subject to arrests and torture, with hundreds facing expulsion from their academic pursuits. Furthermore, degrees often seem to be held hostage and, even when students seek to depart the country, they would have to pay hefty fines to obtaintheir official transcripts.

Encieh Erfani, who last autumn resigned from her post as an assistant professor of physics at Zanjans Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences, echoed the sentiment.

The whole programmelooks like a joke. I cannot even confirm that Iran has 100,000 international students. Even 10,000 is a big number, she said.

She said that Iran had established overseas religious schools with somegivingthemselves the name university in severalplaces since the revolution, giving it a foothold in someparts of Europe and as far afield as Australia.

But thesebore little resemblance to proper institutions of learning, she said. In a totalitarian system, everything is corrupted, even science and education.

pola.lem@timeshighereducation.com

Read more from the original source:
Scholars doubt Irans overseas students push - Times Higher Education

https://aviationweek.com/themes/custom/particle/dist/app-drupal/assets/awn-logo.svg

Credit: Nigel Howarth/AWST

Iran is likely the source of a recent uptick in navigation failures caused by spoofing of GPS receivers in commercial aircraft near its borders, the head of U.S. Air Forces in the region said on Oct. 4. The closer you get to Iran, the more clear it is to me that its probably the Iranians who are...

Iran Likely Source Of Recent GPS Spoofing Uptick, USAF Says is published in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, an Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) Market Briefing and is included with your AWIN membership.

Already a member of AWIN or subscribe to Aerospace Daily & Defense Report through your company? Loginwith your existing email and password.

Not a member? Learn how you can access the market intelligence and data you need to stay abreast of what's happening in the aerospace and defense community.

Apple app store ID

6447645195

Apple app name

apple-itunes-app

App argument URL

https://shownews.aviationweek.com

See the original post here:
Iran Likely Source Of Recent GPS Spoofing Uptick, USAF Says - Aviation Week

Former BlackRock managing director Steven Schoenfield, whos now the CEO of MarketVector Indexes, gives the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission three to six months before it approves a Bitcoin spot ETF.

Schoenfield gave his estimate during a panel discussion on ETFs at CCDatas Digital Asset Summit in London yesterday, where he was joined by another ex-BlackRock director Martin Bednall, now CEO of Jacobi Asset Management.

Schoenfield was responding to comments made earlier by Bednall that the SEC will probably approve [all ETF applications] at the same time; I dont think they want to give anybody first mover advantage.

Previously the MarketVector CEO said he would have given the industry nine to twelve months before an approval, but the SECs recent decision to delay giving verdicts on several pending ETF applications is unlike previous delaying tactics by the regulator.

Instead of completely rejecting the whole list, they've asked for comments, which is a marginal but significant improvement in the dialogue, says Shoenfield. There's also the Grayscale lawsuit, which the SEC lost, which means they're most likely going to have to allow the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust to be converted into an ETF.

Through its pending ETF application, traditional finances top asset manager, BlackRockshepherding $9.42 trillion in assets-under-management (AUM)seems the likeliest contender to get a Bitcoin spot ETF approved.

After all, it has a winning score of 575-1 when it comes to getting ETFs through the SEC.

Nobody would have seen it coming back in 2017 when BlackRock chief Larry Fink called Bitcoin an index of money laundering.

Fast forward to summer 2023: Fink appeared on FOX News and said that crypto is digitizing gold in many ways.

During CCDatas panel discussion in London yesterday, Martin Bednall said he believes in any case that the traditional financial muscle, in terms of both brand and resources, will give BlackRock a first-mover advantage should the SEC decide to start approving Bitcoin spot ETFs.

Shoenfield was more temperate in his views about their former companys foray into crypto.

I disagree with my former colleague Martin. As much as Blackrock will try to crush the competition, there's a good half dozen, maybe eight or nine, other firms deeply committed to tradable digital assets," he said. "They've all got applications in and some are actually much closer to the crypto ecosystem than than BlackRock. So I think Blackrock will be in for quite a fight.

He later added that his company has run the numbers and believes spot ETF approval may result in a $150 to $200 billion inflow into Bitcoin investment products over three years, which would double or triple the amount of AUM in current Bitcoin products.

Read the rest here:

Ex-BlackRock Director Says SEC Will Approve a Bitcoin ETF in '3 to 6 Months' - Decrypt