** IRAN DAILY
- Iran calls for NAM’s more active role in the world
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to play a more active role in international bodies in order to strengthen the rule of law in the world.
Addressing NAM’s ministerial meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, Amir-Abdollahian said that the movement should support multilateralism more strongly than before.
He also called for the movement to strongly express its opposition to some countries’ instrumental use of international bodies, and more decisively defend the fundamental principles of international law.
With its 120 member states, NAM is the largest grouping of countries outside of the UN, making it an important player in global and multilateral affairs.
The Iranian foreign minister also said Iran strongly condemns a recent “provocative” act of desecration of Muslims’ holy book, the Qu’ran, in Sweden.
--Thirty historical artifacts returned to Iran in past two years
Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism reported that 30 historical artifacts have been returned to Iran since the incumbent government took office two years ago.
Ezzatollah Zarghami on Wednesday cited the return of the rock relief of an Achaemenid soldier as an example of the achievement, according to Fars news agency.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the current efforts at restoring historical buildings, he said that a special new office in the ministry will be dedicated to overseeing the efforts and issuing expert warnings to the institutions that are putting the buildings to use.
The minister also announced that 850,000 foreign tourists have visited Iran since the beginning of the current Iranian year (which started on March 21), 550,000 of whom arrived in Iran in the month to June 21.
--French police, protest violence is problematic: EU Commissioner
Violence in France, by some police officers and by demonstrators who turn to looting, “poses a problem,” EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said Wednesday.
“It is striking” that a “very high level of violence” was seen in protests in France in recent years over cost of living, pension reform and last week’s police killing of a teen driver, Reynders told Belgian public radio RTBF, AFP reported.
“That really needs to be looked at because it poses a problem,” the commissioner, a former Belgian prime minister, said.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
--Zionists Retreat, Palestinians Hail ‘Victory’ in Jenin
Hours after Israel’s leader said a large-scale military aggression against the West Bank city of Jenin was wrapping up, five rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip in retaliation into Occupied Palestine early Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, eight Zionists were wounded by a Palestinian man in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv.
The Palestinian death toll in the Jenin operation that began on Monday and stretched into Tuesday, the biggest that Israel has launched in the area in many years, rose to 12, Palestinian health officials said.
--Palestinian Youths Slapped Zionists in the Face
The commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday the Palestinian youth slapped the “miserable” occupying regime of Israel in the face during its military aggression on the West Bank city of Jenin.
Brigadier General Esmail Qa’ani made the remarks in a ceremony at the Islamic Azad University here, following Israel’s deadly aerial and ground offensive against Jenin and its refugee camp.
“The Palestinians were never as powerful and strong as they are today. On the contrary, the criminal Israelis were never in trouble, division, and misery like they are now. The Palestinians learned the way to live and fight with dignity from the Islamic Revolution,” he said.
--Eid al-Ghadir Celebrations to Be Held in 26 Provinces
Eid al-Ghadir celebrations will be held simultaneously in 26 provinces and 61 locations throughout Iran.
From the farthest villages and cities to the centers of the country’s provinces, different activities are being organized to mark the occasion.
Eid al-Ghadir marks the day on which the Prophet of Islam appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib (Peace upon them) as his successor.
Eid al-Ghadir is among the important feasts and happy holidays of Shia Muslims. After 23 years of guiding Muslims by divine command, Prophet Muhammad (Peace upon Him) chose Imam Ali as his successor.
** TEHRAN TIMES
-- Another chance for Baku
The visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian to the Republic of Azerbaijan presents the South Caucasus nation with another opportunity to change course and improve relations with Iran.
On Tuesday night, Amir Abodollahian left Tehran for Baku to participate in a ministerial Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The meeting also presented Iran with an opportunity to advance its active foreign policy and cement the neighborliness policy pursued by the Raisi administration. Amir Abdollahian referred to the multilateral and bilateral opportunities associated the current NAM meeting.
“I traveled to Azerbaijan to join a foreign ministerial summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Due to the diversity of member countries, NAM has a special capacity to strengthen multilateralism and common thinking to solve new global challenges. In addition, the trip will be an opportunity to pursue and develop the neighborliness policy in the region,” the foreign minister said on Twitter.
--Israel failed on strategic level
The Israeli army has announced the end of its two-day raid and the withdrawal of all its soldiers from the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement to Israeli army radio, spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that "All the (Israeli) forces have left Jenin," claiming that the raid's objectives had been achieved.
While Israel claims to have achieved its goals its media likened the "operation" in Jenin to giving a mild painkiller for a terminally ill patient.
These reports from Israeli media also stressed that "it seems the Palestinians have understood what [officials] have failed to grasp in 'Israel' as the armed groups will return to the camp soon to resume their operations."
--French rebellion spills into Belgium, Switzerland
Protests against racial discrimination against minorities in France have spread beyond this European country’s borders
What began as an uprising in a rural-class French neighborhood has morphed into a wider outburst of hate and anger toward discriminatory state and police violence.
A week of violent unrest in major French cities has been described by witnesses and reporters on the ground as a civil war.
Thousands of people joining nationwide demonstrations against the brutal and racial profiling of France's police and other security forces have been arrested.
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