** IRAN DAILY
-- Raisi: Fiber optics key infrastructure for smart services development
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Friday that fiber optics are an important infrastructure for the development of smart services.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a national plan to bring a fiber optics network to homes, businesses, and schools in the northern province of Golestan, he added, “Today, we witness the development of one of the most important communications and information technology infrastructures in this province.
-- Annual exports to Iraq to hit $12b: Official
Iran’s exports to neighboring Iraq will reach $12 billion by the end of the current Iranian year (March 19, 2024), said a member of the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce.
Talking to Fars news agency, Hamid Hosseini said Iran’s exports of products to Iraq in the first eight months of the current Iranian year showed a 35 percent growth compared to the same period last year.
-- Iran to turn into major trade partner for EAEU: Minister
Iran will become one of the most important trade partners of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with the inking of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides, said the union’s minister in charge of trade.
Andrey Slepnev made the remarks in a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali. He also called the agreement the most important cooperation document between the two sides.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- President: No Extra-Regional Countries in Caucasus
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has warned of attempts by extra-regional countries to gain a foothold in the Caucasus, saying the region must not turn into a battleground for other states.
“The Islamic Republic’s policy toward the Caucasus is fixed,” he told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a phone conversation on Thursday. The region, Raisi said, “must not turn into a field of competition between extra-regional countries, and its issues should be resolved by regional countries and away from foreign meddling.”
-- Embassy: British TV’s Claim of Iranian Plot ‘Hollywood-Style Narrative’
LONDON (Dispatches) -- The Iranian embassy in London has categorically rejected and condemned “baseless accusations” of British free-to-air public broadcast television network ITV about Iran’s plot to assassinate two London-based TV presenters.
ITV News on Thursday claimed that Iranian agents had offered a people-smuggler $200,000 to assassinate two news presenters outside their London studio.
-- Iranians Mark Yalda, Longest Night of Year
Iranians across the globe gathered to mark Yalda Night, an event steeped in Persian history, signifying the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. This cultural festivity serves as a testament to the enduring customs of Iranian society.
An ancient tradition with roots in Zoroastrianism, Yalda night celebrates the victory of light over darkness, symbolizing the returning sun. Families and friends convene, sharing food, stories, and poetry until dawn. The festival is marked with symbolic foods such as nuts, pomegranates, and watermelons, signifying dawn and life.
** TEHRAN TIMES
-- Iran beach soccer suffer three losses against Senegal
Iran’s men’s beach soccer team suffered three consecutive losses against Senegal. The matches were held in Bushehr, southern of Iran, as part of preparation for the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Team Melli lost to the African champions 2-1 on Tuesday in their first match and also suffered another 5-4 loss to the team on Wednesday. On Friday, Iran, headed by Ali Naderi, were defeated against Senegal 3-2.
-- Iranian “Our Uniform” shortlisted in Animated Short Film category of 96th Academy Awards
The Iranian short animation “Our Uniform” by Yeganeh Moghaddam has been shortlisted in the Animated Short Film category of the 96th Academy Awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The short flick is among the final 15 animations, selected from among the 93 works qualified in the category.
-- UNESCO-listed Salasel castle undergoes restoration
- Restoration work has commenced on the UNESCO-listed Salasel castle, a significant element within the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System situated in the southwestern Iranian city.
According to CHTN, the director of this World Heritage site recently announced the initiation of preservation and restoration efforts targeting various sections of the historical fortress.
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