** IRNA DAILY
-- Water project glimmer of hope for thirsty se Iran
An Iranian lawmaker expressed confidence that the desalination project and the transfer of water from the Oman Sea to Zahedan and other water-scarce areas of Sistan and Baluchestan Province will be completed by mid-March 2025. This development is expected to provide the people with sufficient healthy drinking water.
In an exclusive interview with Iran Daily, Iranian MP Esmaeil Hossein Zehi highlighted that besides the Oman Sea water transfer project, the government is also taking additional measures to address the water problem in various cities and villages across the province. “However, there is a need for special attention and swift implementation of these measures by the government,” he said.
-- ‘Mr. Babak’s Family’ to feature in Japanese festival
Iran’s short film ‘Mr. Babak's Family,’ directed by Aminreza Alimohammadi and produced by Amin Rafiei, is scheduled to take part in the 7th edition of the Shibuya TANPEN Film Festival in Japan. This is the eighth international experience of the film at global festivals.
This festival, scheduled to take place from December 22 to 24 in two Japanese cities of Nagasaki Tokyo, showcases a diverse array of content, including short and feature films, music videos, and television series. The international distribution of this film is handled by Soulmaz E’temad.
-- 40th Tehran Int’l Short Film Festival gets kudos on its first days
The 40th Tehran International Short Film Festival, which opened on October 19, has attracted an audience of thousands on its first days. Mehrab Mohammadzadeh, the head of the festival’s Information Committee, announced that over 6,000 cinephiles flocked to the festival on its opening day.
Speaking about this unprecedented reception, Mohammadzadeh expressed his hope to be a perfect host to all artists, guests, and festival-goers, given the available resources. Attracting more than 6,000 attendees on the event’s first day signifies a revival of cinematic festivals, he highlighted.
** TEHRAN TIMES
-- Baghdad Festival Awards Iran’s ‘Macbeth of Zar’
The Iranian play “Macbeth of Zar” written and directed by Ebrahim Poshtkuhi has won the Jury prize of the 4th Baghdad International Theater Festival.
At the closing ceremony of the festival, the jury granted the award for the first time in the history of the event to the play, which was also nominated in the best director, best actor, and best actress categories.
-- IRICA: Over 7 Tons of Gold Imported in 6 Months
The Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) has reported that the country imported 7.45 tons of standard gold ingots, valued at $475.590 million, in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21 to September 22, 2023).
In this period, the import of gold ingots accounted for 1.6 percent of the country’s total imports share, standing 8th in the rank of major products imported into the country, according IRICA.
Some 4.37 tons of gold ingots were imported into the country via the Customs Office of Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA), IRICA said, adding that 58.65 percent of the imported gold ingots have been discharged from the customs office. In addition, 2.12 tons and 782 kg of gold ingots were imported into the country via Bashmaq and Tabriz customs offices respectively.
-- TPOI: Non-Oil Exports Exceed $27bn
Head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Mehdi Zeyghami on Saturday said that the total value of products exported from the country since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2023) surpassed $27 billion, showing a 29 percent growth in weight compared to last year’s corresponding period.
Zeyghami addedthat $53 billion of products were exported from the country in 2022, registering a new record.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- Rower Kazemi defends Brazilian coach Pedro Sena
Hedyeh Kazemi, a member of the senior women national kayak team, believes that Brazilian coach Pedro Sena has had a positive impact on Iran rowing national team. Kazemi secured a bronze medal in the Women's Kayak Single 500m event at the 2022 Asian Games, completing the race in 2:00.635.
Hedieh Kazemi's hopes of repeating her silver medal from five years ago in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games were dashed as she won bronze in Hangzhou, remaining the only Iranian women's Kayak medalist in the tournament.
-- Persian vocalist Mohammad Motamedi’s collaborative album with Dutch band Rembrandt Trio released
Iranian traditional singer Mohammad Motamedi’s collaboration with the jazz music ensemble Rembrandt Trio from the Netherlands has been released in an album titled “Intizar: Songs of Longing”.
In the album, traditional songs finely arranged for original compositions on poems by Persian poets Omar Khayyam and Hafez, Honaronline reported.
-- Iran’s exemplary exporters honored on National Exports Day
- Iran’s 27th National Exports Day ceremony was held at Tehran’s Islamic Summit Conference Hall on Saturday, in which the country’s exemplary exporting companies were honored, IRIB reported.
Organized by the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), the ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials including Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Abbas Ali-Abadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari, and TPO Head Mehdi Zeyghami.
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