*** IRAN DAILY
-- Iran summons Sweden’s envoy to convey vehement protest at desecration of Holy Qur’an
Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the chargé d’affaires of Sweden to convey the Islamic Republic’s vehement protest at the desecration of the Holy Qur’an by a Swedish far-right group during the fasting month of Ramadan.
The Swedish envoy was summoned on Sunday by the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s head of the Third Western Europe Bureau, who expressed Iran’s strong protest at the sacrilege of Islam’s holy book by the leader of a far-right group under the protection of Sweden’s police and on the pretext of the freedom of expression.
-- Iran imposes 18% tariff on exports of raw steel, cement
Iran’s Ministry of Trade has imposed a tariff of 18% on exports of raw steel, cement and some key metals to prevent supply shortages and price rises that could cause problems for local industries.
Deputy Trade Minister Alireza Peyman-Pak said that Iran’s Market Regulation Headquarters (MRH) had decided to impose the duties following a surge in overseas shipments over the winter that had been caused by a series of international developments, including the conflict in Ukraine.
-- Food tourism: A guide toward sustainable development
The role of food is becoming increasingly important in the marketing of tourism destinations, said Zahra Larijani, the secretary of the Food Committee of Travel Agents Guild Association.
She told ISNA that culinary tourism helps develop local economy, enhances employment and guides a nation toward sustainable development.
She noted that food tourism could also help promote a positive image of a country in the international arena.
“Branding can help food tourism be recognized as an important component that generates sustainable economic, cultural and environmental benefits for locals in the tourist destinations,” she added.
*** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- Iran Strongly Condemns Desecration of Qur’an in Sweden
Iran on Sunday condemned desecration of the Holy Qur’an by a Swedish far-right group during the fasting month of Ramadan, saying the blasphemous act is a clear example of hate mongering and has nothing to do with freedom of speech.
The strong condemnation came after the Danish leader of the far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party tried to burn a copy of the Qur’an in a heavily-populated Muslim area in Sweden.
-- Enemies’ Strategic Depth Within Iran’s Reach
Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi on Sunday reminded the enemies that their strategic depth is within reach of Iran, warning that any threat to the Islamic Republic will be met with force.
In a message on the occasion of the National Army Day, General Mousavi warned the enemies that any action against Iran will cost them dearly.
“The enemy should bear in mind that its strategic depth is within reach of Iran’s military equipment and clout,” the commander said.
-- Iran Exports to Arab, African Countries Rise to $2.6bn
The Director-General of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO)’s Office of Arabian and African Countries Farzad Piltan has said that country’s exports value to Arab and African countries exceeded $2.6 billion last year.
Piltan said that Iran’s export of products to Arab and African states increased from $13.595 billion to $16.293 billion, showing a 20 percent hike.
Among Iran’s major export target markets, the countries of Iraq, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sultanate of Oman, Ghana and South Africa stood first to fifth ranks respectively in this period, Piltan emphasized.
*** TEHRAN TIMES
-- Over 47m vehicle tires produced in a year
Iranian tire manufacturers produced 47,624,426 vehicle tires in the past Iranian calendar year 1400 (ended on March 20), which was one percent more than the figure of its preceding year. This number of produced tires weighed over 288,149 tons, with a four-percent drop year on year.
As reported, 24,179,708 car tires weighting 259,096 tons were produced in the past year, with four percent drop in number, and five percent fall in weight as compared to its preceding year.
-- Dam reservoirs shrink by 12%
The total volume of water in dam reservoirs is estimated at about 26.1 billion cubic meters since the beginning of the current water year (September 23, 2021), showing a 12 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.
Iran is located in an arid and semi-arid area and its average rainfall is 250 mm, which is about one-third of the global average. In terms of the spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall in the country, favorable conditions are not provided to strengthen water resources and proper access to water resources in the country, so the amount of rainfall in desert areas is about 46 mm, which is more than 1,400 mm in the northern provinces. In terms of time, 5 percent of the country’s rainfall occurs in summer, which does not help much in supplying water to summer and permanent crops.
-- Discovery of millennia-old fossils may lead to a biodiversity hotbed in Iran
A team of paleontologists from the University of Tehran has discovered traces of fossilized crabs in the Iranian heartland which may hint at a hotbed of biodiversity dating from 15 million years or so.
“A new species of Galene de Haan from the Mid Miocene (Langhian) strata of the Mishan Formation has been exposed at two localities in Hormozgan province, Zagros Mountains, Iran,” according to a new study conducted by Erfan Khosravi, Alireza Sari, Majid Mirziee-Ataabadi, Hossein Gholamalian, Mat Hyn, Reza Naderloo.
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